The Rolling Stones today (L to R): Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, Charlie Watts. Photo: Rankin. Used with permission, Harper Collins: The Stones Turn 50
By Amanda Eisman
How These Mega-Stars Keep Going
Some of the greatest artists of all time are joining together to play at the hottest music event of the year: The Desert Trip Festival.
This three day, jam-packed festival takes place Friday through Sunday, October 7-9 and again October 14-16 (two weekends) at the Empire Polo Club, Indio, California. Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Roger Waters, Neil Young and the Who are hitting the stage for the concert of a lifetime.
About the Event
Approximately 70,000 fans will attend this event, produced by Goldenvoice Entertainment, a subsidiary of AEG Live. Dubbed “Oldchella” and “Classic Rock Coachella,” this festival gives fans the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience all the biggest names in rock on one stage.
An estimated 35,000 reserved seats are being allocated to the festival. The additional sales of around 40,000 general admission tickets will make this event one of the largest in history for the Empire Polo Field venue
Ticket Info
Tickets are selling out quickly, but you can buy three-day passes (ranging from $399 to $1,599) and single-day passes ($199) from Vivid Seats, a large, national, independently owned and operated online secondary ticket resale marketplace.
The venue is expansive with ample room to find a comfortable spot for concert viewing. The reserved seating areas offer some of the best views of the concert. Camping areas are available adjacent to the venue and nearby hotels and resorts are highly abundant. Although Indio can get very hot in the summer, temperatures typically range from the mid-70s to low-80s in October.
The two weekend event will include the same line-up in the same order. Friday night will kick-off with The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan; Saturday night features Paul McCartney and Neil Young with Promise of the Real; and Sunday night will top-off this unforgettable festival with performances by Roger Waters and the Who.
How Do These 70-Somethings Do It?
As the artists’ work the stage, whip out guitar solos and tirelessly play song after song, we can’t help but wonder how they’ve maintained their energy and enthusiasm across the years.
These mega-stars are all in their early 70s, with the exception of guitarist Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones, who recently turned 69. Despite decades of lively performances, they continue to rock the stage with the vitality and passion of their youth. Now they are sharing their secrets of how they’ve stayed energized and ready-to-go—and no, they are not chugging Red Bulls back-stage.
Paul McCartney Doing Headstands?
McCartney exposes his no-fail fitness routine of fifty years, and it is mind-boggling. At 73 years old, Paul McCartney might be found upside down at the gym, standing on his head. His routine includes cardio such as running or cross-training, some light weightlifting, stretching, abs, and finally, a 5-minute headstand. He enjoys showing off to the “big guys” at the gym who can’t help but marvel at his strength and balance.
“When I’ve done my headstand for about five minutes, these big guys will come up to me and say, ‘That was pretty impressive, man!” McCartney told The Daily Mirror.
Aside from the awe stricken heavy-lifters who may have a twinge of jealousy regarding McCartney’s upside down abilities, McCartney also attributes his good health to a plant-based diet. He is a long-time vegetarian who practices meditation as a means to unwind and rejuvenate.
While a plant-based diet, yoga routine, and five-minute headstands help McCartney maintain fitness levels off-stage, McCartney reveals another one of his secrets: that he treats the stage as his gym.
Now, when you see McCartney dancing around for hours on-stage, just remember—he is using the stage for a cardio workout! If you already know how to do a headstand, you are already on the right path to achieving rock star fitness.
Mick Jagger’s Moves
McCartney isn’t the only one practicing a healthy off-stage lifestyle. Mick Jagger has been keeping active off-stage with cardio, strength routines, and even ballet with the help of his personal trainer, Torje Eike. Once the tours draw near, Jagger ups his exercise routine in preparation to dance and sing around the stage. It seems that Jagger works the stage with ease. He thanks his off-stage fitness routine for his on-stage endurance.
Biking, swimming, kick-boxing, and running are a few of the ways that Jagger preserves his vitality. He is known to run about eight miles per day in preparation for upcoming tours. His personal trainer has helped him stay healthy by encouraging him to supplement his long distance cardio with strength and balancing routines.
Jagger is also known to supplement his workouts with a diet based on organic whole foods. A diet high in protein with unrefined carbohydrates has helped fuel his workouts, on-stage performances, and busy lifestyle.
Neil Young’s Fight against GMO’s
When it comes to healthy living, Neil Young focuses on a natural GMO-free diet. Young is featured in the short documentary, Seeding Fear, which discourages the production of GMO’s. The documentary was released in 2015 in response to the proposal of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015, which would allow for companies to omit whether or not the ingredients in their products are genetically modified.
Young has earned both praise and criticism for his disproval of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015. While controversy remains about the safety of GMO’s, it is clear that Young pays attention to what he eats. A hearty and nutritionally rich diet has likely kept his energy levels intact, both on and off the stage.
Watch Them Rock at The Desert Trip Festival
See your favorite artists boast their high-levels of fitness and their music on the stage this October. While they get a great cardio workout, you get the performance of a lifetime.
FIND TICKETS AT VIVID SEATS AND EVENT DATES HERE.
