Satisfaction for Rolling Stones fans in Cuba

Keith Richards plays his guitar as the Rolling Stones perform in Havana, Cuba, Friday March 25, 2016. The Stones are performing in a free concert in Havana Friday, becoming the most famous act to play Cuba since its 1959 revolution. (AP Photo/Enric Marti)

The band opened the show in Havana with Jumping Jack Flash and lead singer Sir Mick Jagger addressed the crowd in Spanish saying: “Hola Habana, buenas noches mi gente de Cuba” - which translates as “Hello Havana, goodnight my people of Cuba”, state media reported.

The show went ahead despite reports that the Pope had tried to halt the Good Friday concert.

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.”

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

The band’s music was banned in Cuba for many years because it was considered subversive and blocked from the radio.

Cubans listened to their music in secret, passing records from hand to hand and the band built up a huge fan base on the isolated island.

Hundreds of thousands of those fans poured into the Ciudad Deportiva stadium to watch the veteran rockers.

Sir Richard Branson told his Twitter followers he would be supporting the band at their landmark show, writing: “Excited to be heading to Cuba to see my friends the RollingStones rock Havana! StonesCuba.”

Sir Mick, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood flew into Jose Marti international airport on Thursday with family members and crew aboard their private plane.

Their concert is the second landmark event in the country this week, after the visit by American president Barack Obama - the first US leader to visit the country since the 1959 revolution.

Sir Mick greeted fans in Spanish on their arrival at the airport, saying he was happy to be there.

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.”

The Rolling Stones have been touring Latin America with concerts in Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Brazil.