The signs continue to point to the Rolling Stones playing some 50th anniversary shows before the year's out -- and those signs have become more concrete this week.

First guitarist Keith Richards confirmed to Britain's Q magazine that, "We've got some shows in London, I believe, and in New York, but I really can't talk about any of that at the moment. They've put the gag on me on this. You can hint!"

The smart money, by the way, has the U.S. dates taking place at the new Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn. Meanwhile, longtime Stones saxophonist Bobby Keys tells us that the plans are already in motion:

"I just know we're gonna do some more concerts, starting in November with two in England and then a couple here in the States, and then there's a few added concerts after that. I was told the itinerary, but I didn't write it down; they'll send me all that information, all I need to know.”

“Keith told me a couple months ago there was something in the wind and just be ready to go. I'm waiting for them to send me the plane ticket and the information and the check, and then I go."

As usual, pundits wonder if this might not be the last time the Stones hit the road, which Keys says could be the case -- or not:

"The reality is this train is gonna pull into the last station pretty soon. I don't know how soon; I've been saying this since 1980 -- that was 30-some odd years ago, so we'll have to see. But I feel like it's kind of winding down. This may be sort of the sayonara, see ya later, had a good time, keep in touch. I don't know that for sure. I haven't officially been told anything."

Meanwhile, the Stones calendar is filling up, including:

• The release of "Doom and Gloom," one of the two new songs recorded for the "GRRR!" greatest hits package, on Thursday (October 11). "GRRR!" comes out November 13.
• "The Rolling Stones 50" coffee table book comes out on in the U.S. on October 16 after a July publication in Britain.
• The documentary "The Rolling Stones: Charlie Is My Darling -- Ireland 1965" releases on DVD November 6.
• And the "Crossfire Hurricane" documentary rolls out November 15 on HBO after an October 18 launch in Great Britain.

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