Stones cancel Perth gig after Jagger girlfriend dies

PERTH, Australia – The Rolling Stones on Tuesday, March 18, cancelled the first gig of their Australian tour after the death of frontman Mick Jagger’s girlfriend L’Wren Scott.

The veteran band were due to play in Perth on Wednesday but the concert was called off after Scott, an American fashion designer to the stars, was discovered dead at her New York apartment.

Promoter Frontier Touring suggested that the Perth gig would be rescheduled.

“No further information is available at this time, ticket holders are asked to hold on to their tickets until a further update is available,” it said in a brief statement, without mentioning the rest of the tour.

The band arrived in Perth on their private plane on Monday for the sold-out 14 On Fire series of dates, which takes them across Australia and to New Zealand until April 5.

After Perth, they were due to travel to Adelaide for an outdoor concert on Saturday.

Unconfirmed reports said Jagger, 70, had flown back to New York. He and Scott, 49, had been dating since 2001 following his split from his second wife, Texan model Jerry Hall.

New York police said Scott was found dead at 200 11th Avenue, a block of luxury apartments in the Chelsea district, shortly after 10:00 am (1400 GMT) on Monday.

A spokesman for the rocker said he was “completely shocked and devastated” at the news, while his model daughter Georgia May pulled out of Melbourne Fashion Week.

The 22-year-old was due to showcase Camilla Franks’ collection, but the Sydney-based designer announced she would miss the festival.

“We offer our sincere condolences to Ms Jagger and her family,” the Camilla label said in a statement.

The legendary British rock group – which in 2012 marked its 50th anniversary together – were set to play Australia for the first time since 2006.

Former Stones guitarist Mick Taylor, a member of the band from 1969 to 1974 who played on such classic albums as “Exile on Main Street,” “Sticky Fingers” and “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll”, was due to join them as a special guest. – Rappler.com