On May 7, 2002, The Rolling Stones held a press conference in Van Cortlandt Park, New York City, to announce their 2002–2003 Licks World Tour. Marked by the arrival of a Rolling Stones-branded blimp, the event saw Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Ronnie Wood discuss the upcoming tour, which would feature stadiums, arenas, theatres, and intimate club shows.

The band answered questions about setlists, new music, and the tour’s unique format, while also introducing their touring musicians, including bassist Darryl Jones and keyboardist Chuck Leavell. They revealed plans for a greatest hits collection featuring classic tracks alongside new material, celebrating the band’s four decades of music while looking ahead to the next chapter of their career.