Under the Hood: Tim Ries on Playing Sax with The Rolling Stones

For forty years, countless professional musicians have dreamed of sharing the stage with the Rolling Stones. The dream came true for saxophone player Tim Ries back in 1998, when he was asked to join the Stones’ touring band. Tim Reese recalls the day that changed his life.

There was a horn section that got the gig in 1994 with Michael Davis on trombone. Mike Davis I knew from many years ago and in 1998, they needed a replacement saxophonist who also could play keyboards and organ. And basically the call came and in fact it came when I was doing a gig at the White House for President Clinton at the time. My cellphone rang. I was talking to Clinton about saxophones and mouthpieces and he was incredibly nice. And we were talking about music and my cellphone rang so I said excuse me. And it was Mike saying how about the gig with the Stones starting ’99 with the No Security Tour. I of course was elated and I got off the phone and said “You’re not going to believe what this…” And Clinton was great too. He goes, “Hey this is the new saxophone player with the Stones!” So it was a great day. - Tim Ries