The Rolling Stones Bust Out "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" Cover In Motown [Watch]

The Rolling Stones brought the No Filter tour to Ford Field in Detroit, MI on Sunday night where the band busted out a cover of The Temptations‘ “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”. This marked the first time The Stones had played the song since August 26th, 2007, during a stop at London’s O2 Arena.

The honoring of the Detroit and Motown Records legends came towards the front end of a 19-song setlist, including a two-track encore. Mick Jagger (vocals), Keith Richards (guitar/bass), Ronnie Wood (guitar/bass), and the rest of the backing band got things started with “Street Fighting Man”, from 1968’s Beggars Banquet. After romps through “You Got Me Rocking”, “19th Nervous Breakdown” and “Tumbling Dice” came the highlight in Motor City.

“Ever since we were really young, we always loved Motown,” said Jagger to the Ford Field crowd. “We can’t come to Detroit and not do a Motown number, right?” he continued, prompting a roar from the audience.

After the keyboard and drums launched the band into “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”, Jagger channeled his inner David Ruffin and belted the song’s famous opening line, “I know you want to leave me/ But I refuse to let you go.” Throughout the five-plus minute rendition, Jagger used the entire stage, dancing about as if he was still 23 and living in 1966.

“Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”, which used to be a staple of the band’s set dating all the way back to 1975, is just one of several Temptations songs The Stones have performed live, including “I Can’t Get Next To You”, “Don’t Look Back”, and “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)”. The Eddie Kendricks-sung “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)” last appeared in The Rolling Stones’ setlist back in 2015 at Detroit’s Comerica Park and also has well over 100 plays in the band’s history, per Setlist.fm.

This telling of “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” arrived with complimentary backing vocals and rich additions from the horn section. As the song neared its end, Jagger provided some vocal improv while dancing alongside Keith Richards. From there, Jagger and company left the Motown numbers behind and moved on to the original, “Wild Horses”.

Watch The Rolling Stones perform “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” live at Ford Field below, and scroll down for a complete setlist.

The band will continue its No Filter tour on Saturday, November 20th, at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, TX. From there, The Stones will then close out the run of shows at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL (11/23). Head to the band’s website for tickets and more information.

The Rolling Stones – “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” (The Temptations) – 11/15/21

[Video: dnewton98]

Setlist: The Rolling Stones | Ford Field | Detroit, MI | 11/15/21

Set: Street Fighting Man, You Got Me Rocking, 19th Nervous Breakdown, Tumbling Dice, Ain’t Too Proud To Beg (The Temptations), Wild Horses, You Can’t Always Get What You Want, Living In A Ghost Town, Start Me Up, Honky Tonk Women, Connection, Before They Make Me Run, Miss You, Midnight Rambler, Paint It Black, Sympathy For The Devil, Jumpin’ Jack Flash

Encore: Gimme Shelter, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

[H/T Rolling Stone]