ROLLING Stones production director Dale “Opie” Skjerseth was in Southampton yesterday to check out St Mary’s Stadium ahead of the legendary band’s show, and declared”It’s all going to light up like a Christmas tree!”

And Opie, who has worked with the band for over a decade, promised the May 29 concert would be “a spectacular event, and not just a show”.

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood are heading back on the road in May and June in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Czech Republic & Poland.

Fans can look forward to a set list packed full of classics such as Satisfaction, Paint It Black, Tumbling Dice & Brown Sugar with a spectacular production and state of the art stage design.

Opie has toured with rock’n’roll legends – last year he was touring with Guns’n’Roses and AC/DC.

Looking out over St Mary’s football ground he told the Daily Echo: “We came to check out all our homework is right.

“Everything is down on paper but we wanted to get our heads round it . We’ve opened up the sight lines and picked out dressing rooms, looked at parking, power lines, accommodating guests and security. We carry a large security team of our own as well as working with local staff – security will be paramount.”

The scale of this production is huge and Opie was happy to report that it can all be accommodated but it will take seven days to set it up, have the show and then dismantle it again.

“The stage itself stands higher than the stadium roof. There are 26 production trucks, including 17 steel trucks that come before us. We have 200 people on crew and seven tour buses. The band themselves will fly in from London.

“I put it all together from beginning to end, get it from A to B, organise hotels, transportation and move it round the planet.”

The No Filter tour features two huge steel towers which will have to be lifted into St Mary’s stadium by crane. Spreading 60m wide, the resulting set features four monolithic 22m high x 11m wide LED video screens, a 28m long T-shaped catwalk and B-stage, and a transparent ‘roofette’ that hovers above the band.

Opie added: “The band have complete input - what you see is what they wanted. They work closely with the designer and they enjoy being part of the process of it because it’s a production of their show. Then it’s not a case of ‘What the heck is that!’

“It’s going to be a very special tour. The guys are very excited– they've been on the road for ever and can still hold their ground.”

As for their secret of longevity, Opie says:”Because of their professionalism and wanting to do it. It is an art that they have crafted so well. I don’t see anyone wanting to stop. They’ve been around for so long and practised their art: they’ve always played well but they are like a fine wine and have never sounded better. No one’s out of shape - they are working out for the tour.

“They are still there, holding their ground and still doing it.

“If you have the chance to see them don’t miss it. The show is amazing from the moment they start to when they finish!”