By Phil Williams Radio Five Live's entertainment specialist

There are stars. Then there are superstars. And the Rolling Stones are arguably the biggest band in the world.

The problem is that with big acts, come big entourages - and all of them must give a project a green light before it happens.

From the end of August, my producer and I were on standby to fly to New York at the drop of a hat.

First it was on, then it wasn't.

Then we were going to interview them in Chicago, then Philadelphia, then Mick's people had to clear it, Keith's people had to clear it, the record company had to clear it... it was only the chauffeur who didn't have to personally approve the interviews.

Kick ass

But, on 26 September 2002 we finally flew into New York and went straight to Madison Square Gardens to watch the band that have been labelled "wrinkly rockers" kick ass for two and a half hours.

(Kick ass, is a technical term, by the way)

Richards: Guitar legend of the band

They rattled through a whole selection of classic hits, plus some new songs which included a Keith Richards solo.

Mick changes costumes more often than a shop window mannequin, but whichever part of the stage he chooses to sing from, the crowd in that area go wild.

It's a lesson to bands like the Manics and the Stereophonics who give plenty of the Biz, but very little Show.

Backstage, we mingle with the likes of Tim Rice, and the Duchess of York.

True story

In fact, as my producer went up to the free bar for another round (well, you would do the same) he overheard two American VIP's looking at Fergie and saying, with no sense of irony: "Isn't that the Queen over there?"

I swear to you that is a true story.

The following day, my producer and I are summoned to the New York Palace hotel, 3.00pm sharp.

The interviews are not scheduled until 5.00pm, but we need to meet the band's management.

They are keen to check our credentials - and more importantly, make sure that we are not going to upset the Stones with our rude line of questioning.

Money

At 5.00pm on the dot (rare for rock stars) a very quiet, yet impeccably polite, Charlie Watts comes into the room, and we talk for 25 minutes.

He reveals that the best thing about being a Stone is, "the money" and that the last person in the band he hit was Mick.

"You don't want to get hit by Charlie," says Keith. "He's the drummer man... those hands, those wrists... they're meant for hitting things."

And all of a sudden, we are in rock n roll heaven with legends.

Mick's running late, but he's the next man in.

He tells us that record company execs are useless, that he and Keith are getting just fine, and that he can't remember how many "birds, booze and drugs" he has done because, "all that's a bit of a haze".

Creative juices

Keith comes in with a vodka and orange - well, I say vodka and orange, it's a full glass of vodka and a dribble of Tango.

Ronnie Wood: Five Live's favourite Stone

He talks candidly about all of the drugs he's taken, and with a lot of pride about how he summoned the boys together for rehearsals in May, only to find their creative juices flowing, and they wrote 28 new songs.

Watch this space.

Our favourite Stone was Ronnie Wood. For a man who's only just given up alcohol, he was in remarkably good spirits.

Perhaps not the best phrase there. But you know what I mean.

He had us in stitches about playing live, about his bad boy behaviour and how since giving up the booze, he can now see properly when he performs on stage.

Obviously I've not revealed the juiciest things they told us.

But needless to say, the Rolling Stones lived up to the hype.

They're every bit as Rock n Roll as you want them to be, whilst also being incredibly polite and benevolent.

They signed stuff without a huff, and Ronnie even gave the producer a packet of his fags.

Satisfaction? - I think so.