The concert will be held outside at Havana’s Ciudad Deportivo. The Stones are performin…
Advertisement
“Mick Jagger showed his optimism here”, said Sofia Fernandez de Cossio, 19.
Sir Mick, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood arrived in Cuba on Thursday, flying into Jose Marti global airport with family members and crew aboard their private plane.
The Rolling Stones are gearing up for an historic free concert on Friday in Cuba, where the communist leadership once silenced rock and roll music.
The Cuba thaw, as it were, has been more than 50 years in the making.
They’ve jumped around to “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” for decades – but never before in Cuba.
Between the 1960s and 1990s, rock ‘n roll was discouraged to varying degrees in Cuba, leading during the most repressive years to clandestine listening sessions and an underground trade in smuggled recordings. It’s really good to be here! “It was wonderful to see all of you!”
The Stones romped through 18 of their classics, picking up force as the crowd in the open-air Ciudad Deportiva, or Sports City, jumped and chanted “Rollings!”
THE Rolling Stones and their fans in Cuba finally spent the night together as the band performed a historic free concert in Havana. At its heyday, Cuba’s communist government frowned on USA and British bands. “The times are changing”.
Celebrities such as singer Jimmy Buffett, model Naomi Campbell and actor Richard Gere hang around the VIP section.
Far from the Cuban and global elites, ordinary Cubans said they felt shot through with energy, reconnected with the world.
“After today I can die”, said night watchman Joaquin Ortiz. “This is like my last wish, seeing the Rolling Stones”.
For years, following the Cuban revolution, rock music was banned on Cuban state TV and radio. “So, yeah, nice to be here”, said another one. Got to go to the last show; got to go to the last show.”Wilkinson said that the “most anticipated part” was the the Cuban people and the atmosphere”.
Many of those at the free concert were lifelong fans who for years had to keep quiet about their love of the Stones and other groups.
Advertisement
The Rolling Stones have been touring Latin America, performing concerts in Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Brazil.
