Thread: The Stones in Havana!

Rock and Roll...Cuba

https://www.yahoo.com/music/cuba-gea...142103020.html

HAVANA (AP) — The Rolling Stones unleashed two hours of shrieking, thundering rock and roll on an ecstatic crowd of hundreds of thousands of Cubans and foreign visitors Friday night, capping one of the most momentous weeks in modern Cuban history with a massive celebration of music that was once forbidden here.

The week opened with the arrival of President Barack Obama in Air Force One, accompanied by more than 1,000 employees of a government that waged a cold war against Cuba for more than 50 years. This time, U.S. forces were armed with briefing books and press invitations, here to seal the president's 2014 opening to Cuba with a string of expertly crafted public events that saw Obama call for democracy live on state television, then attend a Major League Baseball exhibition game with Cuban President Raul Castro.

The week ended with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts firing "Jumpin' Jack Flash" ''Sympathy for the Devil" and "Satisfaction" into a jubilant crowd from 3-story-tall high-definition television screens and thumping towers of speakers.

From Sunday evening to late Friday night, it felt as if the full force of the 21st century had landed with bone-rattling impact on an island that still feels mostly cut off from the modern world.

"Havana, Cuba, and the Rolling Stones!" Jagger cried. "This is amazing! It's really good to be here! It's good to see you guys!"

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! Rollings!"

The Rolling Stones were the biggest act to play Cuba since its 1959 revolution brought a communist government to power and isolated the island from the United States and its allies. At its heyday, Cuba's communist government frowned on U.S. and British bands. Fans had to hide their Beatles and Stones albums in covers borrowed from albums of appropriately revolutionary Cuban groups.

But times have changed. Former supermodel Naomi Campbell, actor Richard Gere and singer Jimmy Buffet partied in the VIP section of the concert. Castro's son Alejandro, one of the driving forces behind Cuba's declaration of detente with the United States, greeted friends and relatives after the show.

Far from the Cuban and international elites, ordinary Cubans said they felt shot through with energy, reconnected with the world.

"After today I can die," said 62-year-old night watchman Joaquin Ortiz. "This is like my last wish, seeing the Rolling Stones."

Rivers of spectators flowed north and south from the concert site after the show, watched over by hundreds, perhaps thousands, of security officials.

Few were willing to comment on the connections between the concert and Obama's visit earlier in the week, but many said the concert had implications beyond simple entertainment.

"The Rolling Stones being in Cuba at this time is like several steps up the ladder," said Jennifer Corchado, a 23-year-old biologist. "It's like three steps up the staircase toward global culture, toward the rest of the world."

Among the spectators was a large contingent of foreign tourists, for whom seeing Cuba was as novel as seeing the Rolling Stones is for Cubans.

Ken Smith, a 59-year-old retired sailor, and Paul Herold, a 65-year-old retired plumber, sailed to Havana from Key West, Florida on Herold's yacht.

"This has been one of my life-long dreams, to come to Cuba on my sailboat," Herold said.

Some Cuban concert-goers said it made them more optimistic about the future of their country.

"This is history," said Raul Podio, a 22-year-old employee of a state security firm, who was joined by a group of young friends. "I would like to see more groups, for there to be more variety, for more artists to come, because that would mean we are less isolated."

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

Barry ya finally did good...

^He did indeed.

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

Barry ya finally did good

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

He did indeed.

err...what does the president of the US have to do with british musicians playing in Cuba?

^errr...Ray, are ye a bit denser than usual....

stop drinking your own piss for a minute and lay it out for me, earl...what role did the president of the US have in british musicians playing in cuba?

don't attempt to distract or engage in your usual BS...simply show the causal relationship between obama and the stones playing in cuba.

or you could just admit that (once again) you really have no idea what you're posting about.

Ray,

Which president opened the doors to Cuba?

news flash, prego king.....the members of the rolling stones aren't americans..at least that's true for the four key members..no idea who's playing bass on this tour.

but OK, enlighten me.....what does the president of the US have to do with UK musicians playing in cuba?

^ Both arrived in great big Fkn private Jets. They are the same same, international big stars, giving legitimacy to the freedom of Cubas new found liberty.

what have the Cubans done to deserve this?, poor buggers

some say Mick Jagger is looking more and more like the Queen.
The older he gets.

The Stones fly the flag for old people and I love that.

Many 70 year olds are shitting in their nappy but there these guys are still touring the world in absolute luxury and killing it.

Good fookin on them.

^ Yep...I thought I was seeing their final tour about 3 decades ago...I guess heroin gives ya wings, eh Keith?...

I think there is relevance in that the Stones are the only true global performers that have survived the period of non-relations between the US and Cuba. Their music was as popular during the time of the Bay of Pigs and that period as it is now. Their music also has it's roots in R&B, primarily in African/American origin (as are many Cubans).

If there had to be any performers at this event, I can't think of a more inspired choice than the Stones. Everyone throughout the world.knows their music, whatever their age group, and one thing the Stones never fail to do is put on a great show and performance.

Originally Posted by BaitongBoy

^ Yep...I thought I was seeing their final tour about 3 decades ago...I guess heroin gives ya wings, eh Keith?...

There are only 2 living beings that can survive a nuclear holocaust.


1) Cockroaches.

2) Keith Richards.

Originally Posted by aging one

Ray,

Which president opened the doors to Cuba?

The UK doesn't have presidents.

Originally Posted by Luigi

Originally Posted by aging one

Ray,

Which president opened the doors to Cuba?

The UK doesn't have presidents.

that seems to have finally dawned on earl, aging one and davis knowlton.

too bad this thread wasn't about drinking one's own piss, making 'homemade' spaghetti sauce or navel gazing....then they might have had something accurate to contribute.

But just getting back to The Stones for a second.

What is really fantastic about them is that they have no need to make another Dollar as long as they live.

Every gig they do these days is for pure pleasure such as this free gig.

In their Interviews they just have a big old laugh, it's great to see these guys going hard as long as they can.

Kieth is still smoking Cigs.


And a shit load of top class mull as well I reckon.

Originally Posted by terry57

What is really fantastic about them is that they have no need to make another Dollar as long as they live.

Every gig they do these days is for pure pleasure such as this free gig.

perhaps, but i get the feeling jagger is the type of person who will never have enough money....or applause.

Poor Jagger his ex Texan model wife has remarried a fitter young man.

Originally Posted by raycarey

news flash, prego king.....the members of the rolling stones aren't americans..at least that's true for the four key members..no idea who's playing bass on this tour.

but OK, enlighten me.....what does the president of the US have to do with UK musicians playing in cuba?

Ray Sherry,

What do you think about the Castro bros' opening up to the bad neo-lib world?

Originally Posted by wasabi

Poor Jagger his ex Texan model wife has remarried a fitter young man.

is murdoch younger than jagger?

^

I'll bet ya Jerry don't let that fugly old Cont throw one thru her.

Conts got a dial like a busted frog.

Ray Sherry,

I'm waiting for your answer.


*crickets chirping*

just googled it....jagger is 13 years younger than murdoch.

anyway, here's a photo of the young bride: