Cuba: Rolling Stones rock Havana with landmark gig

The Rolling Stones have rocked Havana, playing to tens of thousands in the Cuban capital, where most foreign rock music was banned for several decades. 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.

Mick Jagger welcomed fans in Spanish before opening the performance with the 1968 hit Jumpin’ Jack Flash. The concert comes days after a historic visit by US President Barack Obama.

‘Time changes everything’

Tens of thousands of Cubans queued for hours to get into the grounds of Havana’s huge 450,000-capacity Ciudad Deportiva  venue. “Hello, Havana. Good evening, my people of Cuba,” said Jagger before beginning the eagerly awaited performance. The band swept through 18 songs in a two-hour gig, including Sympathy for the Devil and Satisfaction (BBC News, 2016).