But the rockers vowed not to let down the 500,000 fans expected at the free outdoor gig in the capital Havana. “The Rolling Stones are going to open it so that Cuba has more choices of rock bands, especially from the era we were unable to participate in”.
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Speaking in Spanish after they landed, frontman Jagger said “Hola Cuba” as they were met by government offi cials.
President Obama’s recent trip to Cuba also caused scheduling issues for the concert, as the Rolling Stones did not want to compete with the President of the United States for Cuba’s attention.
Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones exit their plane after landing at the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, Cuba on March 24.
The concert will cap the Stones’ tour through seven Latin American cities, but drumming up a show in Cuba is no easy task.
Restrictions on music are long gone, and rock has since been eclipsed by reggaeton, rap and electronic music as the most popular forms of music among young Cubans.
“The visit from Obama [earlier this week], and now the Rolling Stones”. “So, time changes everything… we are very pleased to be here and I’m sure it’s going to be a great show”.
“You have a moment that’s in some ways unexpected and spectacular that is about energy and emotion and shows how people are coming together and that’s the magic of these public events”, Cull explained.
In contrast to the relatively recent political rapprochement, the musical thaw between Cuba and the West has been developing for some time.
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Following the Cuban revolution, the music of the Rolling Stones and other foreign bands was considered subversive, banned from being played on the radio. Please see our terms of service for more information. We’d better get ready and get the set list together.
