You can't always get what you want, Your Grace: The Rolling Stones play Cuba for the first time ever in historic Good Friday gig in front of half a million... despite the Pope's attempt to stop them

  • The Rolling Stones played a free gig in Havana, Cuba, in front of 500,000 excited fans who queued for hours 
  • Legendary band had crowd on their feet with opener of Jumpin' Jack Flash and followed with two hours of hits 
  • 'Hello Havana! Good evening to my Cuban people,' Mick Jagger roared to the crowd in perfect Spanish  
  • Historic concert was days after President Obama visited communist nation, where the ban have long been popular
  • It emerged on Saturday that the Pope asked the band not to play on Good Friday - a request they turned down  

The Rolling Stones rocked out in Cuba last night as they put on a historic free gig for half a million jubilant fans in Havana, despite Pope Francis' attempt to stop the show. 

The band received a letter from the pontiff asking they reconsider their Good Friday performance and whether they might wait until midnight to play. 

A tour insider told the Mirror: 'The band's team were flabbergasted when the Vatican got in touch by letter - couldn't believe their eyes.

'Much as they didn't want to upset the Pope, they had a contract to play and were going to honour it. They have made a promise to the Cuban people and won't let them down.'

The Rolling Stones rocked out in Cuba last night as they put on a free gig for half a million jubilant fans in Havana

The Rolling Stones rocked out in Cuba last night as they put on a free gig for half a million jubilant fans in Havana

Two days after the visit of Barack Obama, the Rolling Stones  filled an outdoor arena in the Cuban capital with an estimated 500,000 people

Two days after the visit of Barack Obama, the Rolling Stones filled an outdoor arena in the Cuban capital with an estimated 500,000 people

Pope Francis is thought to have got in touch with the band ahead of their performance on Good Friday to ask if they would postpone

Pope Francis is thought to have got in touch with the band ahead of their performance on Good Friday to ask if they would postpone

Another source told the newspaper the Stones replied to the Vatican, saying other global music events were being held on Good Friday.

The ageing rockers stormed onto the stage as they launched into the band's classic Jumpin' Jack Flash and followed with two hours of their classic hits. 

'Hello Havana! Good evening to my Cuban people,' Mick Jagger roared in perfect Spanish as he took to the stage. 'We know that years ago it was difficult to listen to our music here in Cuba, but here we are, playing for you in your beautiful land. I think that finally things have changed, haven't they?' 

Two days after the visit of Barack Obama, the Rolling Stones put on the gig for free as they filled an outdoor arena with an estimated 500,000 people

The ageing rockers stormed onto the stage as they launched into the band's classic Jumpin' Jack Flash and followed with a two-hour string of classics. 'Time changes everything. We are glad to be here' the front-man said  

The ageing rockers stormed onto the stage as they launched into the band's classic Jumpin' Jack Flash and followed with a two-hour string of classics. 'Time changes everything. We are glad to be here' the front-man said  

A girl clambers onto her father's shoulders as they watched the Rolling Stones give a typically animated performance Cuba on Friday night

A girl clambers onto her father's shoulders as they watched the Rolling Stones give a typically animated performance Cuba on Friday night

The historic gig was put on for free and attracted people from all across the island and beyond

The historic gig was put on for free and attracted people from all across the island and beyond

 

The British band had been blocked from the radio in the communist country but their records have been secretly passed around fans for decades

The British band had been blocked from the radio in the communist country but their records have been secretly passed around fans for decades

Before their landing the band released a video in Spanish with English subtitles, saying: 'We have performed in many special places during our long career but this concert in Havana is going to be an historic event for us. We hope it will be for you too.' 

Sir Mick appeared on stage in a maroon silk shirt and a maroon and black sequinned jacket with black lapels.

Richards sported a black and white bomber jacket with a multi-coloured headband while Wood opted for a bright blue jacket and green T-shirt.

Watts chose a rather more demure white T-shirt and pale blue trousers for the high-profile show.

After the concert, the band posted the set list on their official Twitter page, revealing the hits they performed for the crowd.

It included Out of Control, Angie, 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 and Brown Sugar, as well as All Down The Line, which was chosen by fans on social media, and an encore.  

A woman swings her hair while dancing to the legendary four-piece, which became on Friday the most famous act to play in Cuba since its revolution in 1959 

A woman swings her hair while dancing to the legendary four-piece, which became on Friday the most famous act to play in Cuba since its revolution in 1959 

Many of those waiting outside the concert gates to be among the first to get in were foreigners, for whom seeing Cuba was as novel as seeing the Rolling Stones is for Cubans

Many of those waiting outside the concert gates to be among the first to get in were foreigners, for whom seeing Cuba was as novel as seeing the Rolling Stones is for Cubans

Fan Joaquin Ortiz would have been especially pleased at the band's decision not to listen to the pontiff. 

'After today I can die,' said the night watchman, who could not contain his excitement as the legendary band took to the stage.

The 62-year-old said he's been a huge rock fan since he was a teenager in the 1960s, when Cuba's communist government frowned on U.S. and British bands and he had to hide his Beatles and Stones albums in covers borrowed from albums of appropriately revolutionary Cuban groups.

'This is like my last wish, seeing the Rolling Stones.'

Hardcore fans slept overnight outside the Ciudad Deportiva, or Sports City, where a massive stage had been set up for the British rock legends. 

Tens of thousands more people streamed toward the outdoor sports complex throughout the day and officials were expecting 500,000 people to crowd into the stadium.

Many of those waiting outside the concert gates to be among the first to get in were foreigners, for whom seeing Cuba was as novel as seeing the Rolling Stones is for Cubans.

'Hello Havana! Good evening to my Cuban people,' Mick Jagger roared in perfect Spanish as he took to the stage in a silk oxblood shirt and sequinned jacket 

'Hello Havana! Good evening to my Cuban people,' Mick Jagger roared in perfect Spanish as he took to the stage in a silk oxblood shirt and sequinned jacket 

People at the gig spoke of it 'making history' and of the importance of turning up to watch one of the most famous bands in the world

People at the gig spoke of it 'making history' and of the importance of turning up to watch one of the most famous bands in the world

Crowds begin to grow and excitment mounted as the sun set over Havana before the band took to the stage

Crowds begin to grow and excitment mounted as the sun set over Havana before the band took to the stage

Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards were on fine form in colourful rock and roll attire as they entertained the massive crowd in Havana

Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards were on fine form in colourful rock and roll attire as they entertained the massive crowd in Havana

Fans dance and cheer during the Rolling Stones concert at the Cuidad Deportiva in Havana, Cuba, on Friday

Fans dance and cheer during the Rolling Stones concert at the Cuidad Deportiva in Havana, Cuba, on Friday

Desparate young fans hold onto a fence as they did their best to get whatever view they could of the rock legends' performance

Desparate young fans hold onto a fence as they did their best to get whatever view they could of the rock legends' performance

Men took photographs while sitting on a bar during the free outdoor concert, keen to capture the important moment which for many was more important than Barack Obama's visit 

Men took photographs while sitting on a bar during the free outdoor concert, keen to capture the important moment which for many was more important than Barack Obama's visit 

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 Mr Herold's yacht.

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

Tara Mascarenhas, a 43-year-old business consultant from Chelsea, Quebec, said David Bowie's recent death inspired her to catch the Rolling Stones while they were still playing, and the historic nature of the Cuba concert provided an extra push.

'It'll be quite nice to be able to see Keith (Richards) in the flesh,' she said, adding that she decided to come with only two weeks' notice. 'It's a slight crazy opportunity.' 

Some Cuban concert-goers said the gig 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,' he added.

Some fans slept at the arena overnight to ensure they had a good view, knowing hundreds of thousands would cram into the stadium for the concert

Some fans slept at the arena overnight to ensure they had a good view, knowing hundreds of thousands would cram into the stadium for the concert

While fans waited hours for the show to begin, fans listened to a loop of songs by popular artists including the late Amy Winehouse

While fans waited hours for the show to begin, fans listened to a loop of songs by popular artists including the late Amy Winehouse

It also emerged on Saturday morning that the Pope had asked the Stones not to play on Good Friday and suggested they should wait until midnight to pick up their instruments 

It also emerged on Saturday morning that the Pope had asked the Stones not to play on Good Friday and suggested they should wait until midnight to pick up their instruments 

A girl has the words Rolling Stones written on her face before their concert, which was a sea of Stones' merchandise and insignia 

A girl has the words Rolling Stones written on her face before their concert, which was a sea of Stones' merchandise and insignia 

A girl dressed for the hot Cuban weather stood on the roof of a house next to the Ciudad Deportiva to get a view of the Rolling Stones concert

A girl dressed for the hot Cuban weather stood on the roof of a house next to the Ciudad Deportiva to get a view of the Rolling Stones concert

Security was heavy, provided by private guards in yellow jackets and hundreds of Cuban police and black-clad Interior Ministry officers in black jumpsuits

Security was heavy, provided by private guards in yellow jackets and hundreds of Cuban police and black-clad Interior Ministry officers in black jumpsuits

A woman waves a Cuban flag while sitting on the shoulders of a man. Many in the crowd looked thrilled to finally welcome the popular band to their newly opened-up county 

A woman waves a Cuban flag while sitting on the shoulders of a man. Many in the crowd looked thrilled to finally welcome the popular band to their newly opened-up county 

Frontman Jagger responded to the Pope's request, politely informing the pontiff that they would be playing the gig and pointing out that other musical acts had gigs lined up for Good Friday 

Frontman Jagger responded to the Pope's request, politely informing the pontiff that they would be playing the gig and pointing out that other musical acts had gigs lined up for Good Friday 

While fans waited hours for the show to begin, fans listened to a loop of songs by popular artists including Amy Winehouse while a lone vendor tried to sell popcorn to members of the crowd. 

Security was heavy, provided by private guards in yellow jackets and hundreds of Cuban police and black-clad Interior Ministry officers in black jumpsuits.

In the heat of Cuba's revolution from the 1960s to the 1980s, foreign bands such as The Rolling Stones were considered subversive and blocked from the radio. 

Rock music such as the Stones' wasn't officially prohibited in public, but it was disapproved of. Cubans listened to their music in secret, passing records from hand to hand.

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

Ronnie Wood and pregnant wife Sally Humphreys on stage before the band performed
with girlfriend Alejandra Silva backstage during The Rolling Stones concert

Ronnie Wood and his pregnant wife posed on the stage before the band played, while backstage actor Richard Gere and girlfriend Alejandra Silva soaked up the atmosphere 

A fan walks in carrying the UK and Cuban flags on his back, symbolising the changing attitude of the country's governance  

A fan walks in carrying the UK and Cuban flags on his back, symbolising the changing attitude of the country's governance  

An excited fan welcomes the stars, who ended their South and Central American Ole tour in Cuba, having performed already in Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina and Mexico

An excited fan welcomes the stars, who ended their South and Central American Ole tour in Cuba, having performed already in Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina and Mexico

The ageing rockers landed at Jose Marti airport, where they posed at the top of the stairs as they waved at crowds who have enjoyed their decades of success at a distance

The ageing rockers landed at Jose Marti airport, where they posed at the top of the stairs as they waved at crowds who have enjoyed their decades of success at a distance

Fans waiting on the tarmac only half-joked that this visit meant more than President Barack Obama's and the country's media turned out in force as they touched down

Fans waiting on the tarmac only half-joked that this visit meant more than President Barack Obama's and the country's media turned out in force as they touched down

(Left to right) Ronnie Wood, 68, Mick Jagger, 72, Charlie Watts, 74 and Keith Richards, 72 were on fine form for the people of Cuba 

(Left to right) Ronnie Wood, 68, Mick Jagger, 72, Charlie Watts, 74 and Keith Richards, 72 were on fine form for the people of Cuba 

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