LYNN — On Saturday, Oct. 1, Central Square will be invaded by the British – British rockers, that is – when students from the School of Rock/Lynn perform a set of Rolling Stones songs.
The free concert is part of the Downtown Lynn Cultural District’s 10th annual Clock to the Rock 5K road race/celebration.
If you are not familiar with the City of Lynn’s history with the Rolling Stones, here’s a brief recap: On June 24, 1966, the band played a concert at Lynn’s Manning Bowl. The show was cut short when thunderstorms rolled in. A melee broke out among those in attendance and police used tear gas to break it up. The Stones, according to lore, vowed never to return to the city.
In May 2016, as a way to commemorate the now infamous show’s 50th anniversary, The Item transformed its front page into an open letter to the band inviting them to come back and finish the show. While the legendary rockers haven’t (yet) responded, the band of young rockers came to the emotional rescue of a city that’s been waiting five decades to hear Stones’ songs live in concert.
When the “Young Stones” – Melina Laganas, 14, a student at Marblehead Veterans Middle School; Adam Lynch, 16 and Thomas Wallace, 17, both students at Lynn English High School; Troy Welling, 16, who attends Salem High; and, Thomas Martin, 16, a student at St. John’s Prep – finally take the stage, they will have rehearsed together 1½ to 2 hours a week for a total of two months.
The setlist for the show includes: “Get Off My Cloud,” “Jumpin Jack Flash,” “Dead Flowers,” “Happy,” “19th Nervous Breakdown,” “Honky Tonk Women,” “Satisfaction,” “Paint It Black,” “Wild Horses.” It is not the exact song list the Stones cut short in 1966, but it’s close. The School of Rock quintet will, appropriately, start the race at 11 a.m. by playing “Start Me Up” and resume playing at 11:45 after the winners have received their trophies.
The Clock to the Rock race begins and ends in Central Square (at the clock). It takes runners from downtown, through the Diamond District/down Lynn Shore Drive (Red Rock Park) and back into the square for an awards ceremony and after-party. In addition to the live music provided by the School of Rock “Stones”, a DJ (Seth Albaum) will be on site. There will also be activities for kids, food trucks, local food vendors and a beer tent operated by Lynn’s Bent Water Brewing Co.
Click HERE to register for the Clock to the Rock 5K.