# The Story Behind the “Unfair” Prank The Rolling Stones Pulled on Their Motown Opener in 1972

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-story-behind-the-unfair-prank-the-rolling-stones-pulled-on-their-motown-opener-in-1972/
- Published: 2026-07-23T21:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-23T22:20:37+00:00
- Original publisher: American Songwriter
- Original article: https://americansongwriter.com/the-story-behind-the-unfair-prank-the-rolling-stones-pulled-on-their-motown-opener-in-1972/
- Topics: Entertainment, Geopolitics, Music, Politics

## Key points

- The Stones ended their 1972 tour with a custard-pie fight.
- Stevie Wonder joined the prank enthusiastically.
- The support slot broadened Wonder’s rock audience.

## Summary

The Rolling Stones ended their 1972 summer tour at Madison Square Garden by inviting their support act, Stevie Wonder, back on stage for a joint performance before launching a custard-pie fight. Mick Jagger later described the stunt as “rather unfair” to Wonder, but the singer embraced the chaos and joined in, turning it into a celebratory finale rather than an unwelcome prank.

Wonder recalled musicians slipping in pie while continuing to play, with performers throwing and smearing custard across the stage. The tour also gave Wonder valuable exposure to the Stones’ largely white rock audience shortly before the release of his 1972 album *Talking Book*, which included hits such as “Superstition” and “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.