Tony Visconti walks out of Rolling Stones’ secret show early blaming Questlove’s DJ set – Questlove responds
“The fact that I offended Tony Visconti in such a rock and roll fashion is prolly one of the highest compliments I’ve ever received in my 40 years as a professional musician,” Questlove writes.
![[L-R] Tony Visconti and Questlove](https://musictech.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Tony-Visconti-Questlove@2000x1500.jpg)
Credit: Getty Images
Questlove has responded after being criticised by Tony Visconti for his DJ set at a “secret” event in celebration of The Rolling Stones’ brand new album, Hackney Diamonds.
At the gig, which took place at Manhattan’s Racket club, the band performed a seven-song setlist including a guest slot from Lady Gaga. Before they took to the stage, Questlove got the crowd warmed up. Well, all aside from Visconti who left early.
In a post on Facebook, Visconti called the Roots drummer’s set “deafening,” and shared his disappointment in the event: “On top of that people came up to me and were screaming in my ears, attempting a conversation,” he says. “One guy said he listens to my productions all the time, I was so testy by then I snapped back, ‘You should!’”
The producer then goes on to recall how he flagged down someone “in charge” to ask when The Stones would arrive on stage, but they were unsure. “It was 9:30 now and the DJ was cranking it even louder,” he continues. “I thought, f**k it, I saw The Stones so many times back in the day with a better line up, even one gig with Brian Jones and Bill Wyman.”
Visconti later added that himself and his date walked out and were told by security that they would not be allowed to re-enter, and that he replied, “Thank God.”
Questlove has certainly seen the funny side of the situation, and has shared screen grabs of each part of Visconti’s post on Instagram. “Dog, the fact that I offended Tony Visconti in such a rock & roll fashion is prolly one of the highest compliments I’ve ever received in my 40 years as a professional musician,” he wrote in the caption among a row of laughing faces.
He also added that the late Roots manager, Rich Nichols who passed away in 2014, would have found the situation hilarious.
Hackney Diamonds by The Rolling Stones is out now.
