First Rolling Stones Concert In China

April 8, 2006

Following 2003’s false starts, The Rolling Stones finally performed for the first time in mainland China, at Shanghai’s Grand Stage Theatre.

Shanghai was the only Chinese leg on their two-year ‘A Bigger Bang Tour,’ the band arriving from Japan on a jumbo jet loaded with almost 100 tons of equipment and set pieces.

The Rolling Stones - Start Me Up (Live in China)

At the press conference in the Four Season’s Hotel, Keith Richards declared of finally making it to the Middle Kingdom:

“I feel like Marco Polo!”

At a press conference promoting their arrival in Shanghai, the band joked about the changes to the set, with singer Mick Jagger drolly noting that they had hundreds of other songs to choose from and quipping, “I am pleased the Ministry of Culture is protecting the morals of expatriate bankers and their girlfriends.” Guitarist Keith Richards added that the band might go ahead and perform instrumental versions in order to “give Mick a break.”

The Stones were banned from performing three songs (‘Brown Sugar’, ‘Honky Tonk Women’, ‘Rough Justice’). Chinese rock star Cui Jian joined the band on stage for a duet with Mick Jagger on ‘Wild Horses’.

Mick Jagger and chines rock veteran Cui Jian playing “Wild Horses”

The show itself was unanimously declared an absolute belter, with an 8,000-strong crowd cramming into the Shanghai Grand Stage and millions more watching it live on CCTV.

The band even invited Cui Jian – ‘The Father of Chinese Rock’ – to join them on stage to play ‘Wild Horses.’

The final encore? ‘Satisfaction.’ The audience certainly got some… yeah, yeah, yeah.