Rolling Stones in Havana

[JohnInCleveland]

I've read several reports that the Stones are going to play a show in March at Latinomarican Stadium in Havana. There were even rumors of a documentary being filmed and an alleged date of March 21, which would coincide with their Latin American tour. Mick was there in October and supposedly they were in talks with the Cuban government.

Does anyone know if it made the jump from rumor to fact? It's only 2 months away, if it were really happening I'd expect to be able to get confirmation awfully soon...

[Guest scsi]

With the passing of both Bowie and Frey, I have my doubts Jagger will last that long

[Ken Gargett]

no reason the stones could not have played there any time over the last 40 years. not an american band.

you have to wonder why?

[NapaNolan]

It's not Jagger I'd be worried about.

[JohnInCleveland]

Rock and Roll was frowned upon by the Castro's for the majority of those 40 years. Plus now that Cuba is being opened up to the States and the fact that they're touring in South America is the perfect storm for the first big rock concert in Havana.

[JohnS]

no reason the stones could not have played there any time over the last 40 years. not an american band.

you have to wonder why?

Rock and Roll was frowned upon by the Castro's for the majority of those 40 years. Plus now that Cuba is being opened up to the States and the fact that they're touring in South America is the perfect storm for the first big rock concert in Havana.

Yes, I've been reading through the history of Rock/Pop music in Cuba and indeed it was banned/frowned upon by the regime in the 1960's and 1970's. The first seeds of change occurred with the three day Havana Jam in 1979 which had American acts such as Weather Report, Stephen Stills, Kris Kristofferson and Billy Joel.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havana_Jam_'79

Manic Street Preachers were one of the first Western bands to perform a concert in Communist Cuba in 2001. Fidel Castro attended, in the front row.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/1172686.stm

To prove how full-circle things have come, a statue of John Lennon is now in Havana Park and Audioslave were the first American band to have an open-air concert in 2005.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4524425.stm

Perhaps the lack of Western Music Acts in the last 10 years is due purely to economics, or there are still political factors. I know a huge free concert in Havana drew 1 million people in 2009, but there were no 'big acts' at this show. So a Rolling Stones show would be historical for sure.

[Ken Gargett]

Yes, I've been reading through the history of Rock/Pop music in Cuba and indeed it was banned/frowned upon by the regime in the 1960's and 1970's. The first seeds of change occurred with the three day Havana Jam in 1979 which had American acts such as Weather Report, Stephen Stills, Kris Kristofferson and Billy Joel.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/1172686.stm

To prove how full-circle things have come, a statue of John Lennon is now in Havana Park and Audioslave were the first American band to have an open-air concert in 2005.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4524425.stm

Perhaps the lack of Western Music Acts in the last 10 years is due purely to economics, or there are still political factors. I know a huge free concert in Havana drew 1 million people in 2009, but there were no 'big acts' at this show. So a Rolling Stones show would be historical for sure.

john, the lennon bust been there for ages. as has one to princess di - christ knows why.

like most things in cuba, the opposition to rock etc has come and gone. but as you say, plenty of acts playing there for many years. i can't believe that they would not have had the stones, if the stones had been interested, as it is a bit of an 'up yours' to the west. i suspect the stones saw no money in it but now they do (which i guess is diametrically opposed to the original attitude of the stones).

ry cooder was there on one of my visits many years ago.

one of the best days we ever had in havana was at the 'house of models' for the monthly sunday arvo concert. they have a band - i think it is called kent state from memory - who play there. have been playing havana for 40 years but most of the time, been locked up for sedition etc. they were fabulous and the crowd was sensational. but obviously the crowd had grown up with the band and followed them all that time. almost all had bandanas, leather bike jackets, old rock t-shirts, long hair, torn denim jeans. it was like we had travelled back to the 60s or 70s. and most had their kids and grandkids there. the band could rarely manage more than 3-4 songs - all old american rock classics - before needing a break. they really gave it everything every song.

everyone up dancing, drinking gallons of rum. an absolute brilliant hoot.

i remember walking outside near the end and there, lined up along the footpath, was about three dozen pushbikes, instead of the harleys you almost expected.

[TheLiquidGator]

With the passing of both Bowie and Frey, I have my doubts Jagger will last that long

I say he is ringer for 90. In great shape and takes care of himself.

[Guest scsi]

ala Bob dylan

ya, you right

wait... bob dylan isn't dead yet right?