Rolling Stones landmark gig rocks Cuba

Following a 3-day visit from U.S. President Barack Obama and his family, The Rolling Stones landed in Cuba to play a free concert.

Until about 15 years ago Cuba’s communist government banned most Western rock and pop music.

According to state media, lead singer Mick Jagger addressed the crowd in Spanish, saying: “Hola Habana, buenas noches mi gente de Cuba”, which translates as “Hello Havana, goodnight my people of Cuba”.

Video courtesy of Reuters.

The Rolling Stones have played a gig to half a million fans in Havana despite the Pope’s attempts to halt the show. The Stones are performing a free concert in Havana on…

“We ate rice and beans last night at a paladar (private restaurant), but the best part was dancing Cuban rumba”, Jagger, who thrilled the crowd with some of his trademark moves during the show, said between two of the songs. “Obviously something has happened in the last few years”, Jagger said at Jose Marti International Airport. And while other groups have played gigs, this is different.

“It’s a dream that has arrived for the Cuban people”, said radio host and rock music specialist Juanito Camacho. Cubans who wore long hair and beards faced harassment from officials, including Fidel Castro who told them to dress like men.

“This is a once in a lifetime concert that we’ll never forget”, said Roberto Montanez, a 21-year-old college student who arrived early in the morning to grab a good spot together with friends. Rock records were hard to find, and while some musicians experimented with rock in underground venues, anything too public or flamboyant risked reprisals from the government.

The concert will be held outdoors at Havana’s Ciudad Deportivo, where nearby streets were blocked to traffic beginning on Thursday.

Cubans listened to their music in secret, passing records from hand to hand and the band built up a huge fan base on the isolated island.

The band’s Cuba stop ended its “Ole” Latin America tour, which also included concerts in Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina and Mexico.

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