No doubt about it. From all reports, the Rolling Stones simply wowed some 450,000 people who atteneded the band’s first-ever concert in the Communist island nation on Friday.
According to the BBC, frontman Mick Jagger kept politics at a bare minimum throughout the two-hour, 18-song set at the open-air Ciudad Deportiva, commenting “We know that years back it was hard to hear our music in Cuba, but here we are playing. I also think the times are changing.”
Of course, there is a bit of controversy swirling about the “landmark” status of the gig. According to London’s Independent, seems South Wales’ Manic Street Preachers played Havana in a free gig at the Karl Marx Theatre, some 15 years ago, claiming their status as the first major western rock band to play Cuba. They have a live concert video of the event, “Louder Than War,” to prove it.
So what truly defines “major”?
Manic Street Preachers took to twitter to air their legacy.
Had the strangest of dreams last night-I was playing a free gig in Havana,Cuba at the Karl Marx Theatre 15 years ago!!!!!!!!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
— Manic Street Preachers (@Manics) March 26, 2016
What a show it was xxxxxxxxxx pic.twitter.com/2tGuXWtBCC
— Manic Street Preachers (@Manics) March 26, 2016
Here’s the Stones’ set list according to the BBC:
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)
Tumbling Dice
Out of Control
All Down the Line
Angie
Paint It Black
Honky Tonk Women
You Got the Silver
Before They Make Me Run
Midnight Rambler
Miss You
Gimme Shelter
Start Me Up
Sympathy for the Devil
Brown Sugar
Encores: You Can’t Always Get What You Want
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Posted March 28, 2016