The Rolling Stones on Saturday rocked the night away on fabled Copacabana beach with more than 1,2-million fans in one of the biggest concerts the world has ever seen.
Sir Mick Jagger (62), shouted ”Hello Brazil” in Portuguese to a huge roar, and the supergroup worked up a sweat delivering more than 20 of their biggest hits, including Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Satisfaction and Honky Tonk Women.
Fans came from across South America for the extraordinary event, which cost $4,6-million to put on.
Concert-goers did not pay, but the Stones still took a pay cheque as the Rio city authorities and two cellphone companies picked up the tab.
Thousands watched and sang along from windows and balconies of hotels and buildings near the beach and from boats massed offshore for the opening concert in South America on the Rolling Stones’ latest world tour.
Jagger; fellow band members Keith Richard, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood; and their accompanying musicians, played on a giant stage, 60m long and 24m high, and decked out in a palm motif.
A special walkway was set up to take the group from the Hotel Copacabana Palace, where they were staying, to the stage.
There were more than 100 tonnes of sound and light equipment for the spectacle, with giant speakers and screens set up along the beach.
Several thousand police were on duty and the fire department estimated there were more than 1,2-million people. No serious incidents were reported.
Opening with It’s Only Rock and Roll, the show also included other favourites such as Sympathy for the Devil and four new songs from their latest release, A Bigger Bang.
People began claiming places for the concert early on Saturday morning, greeted by scorching sunshine after several days of rain.
Fans who came from Argentina chanted ”Let’s go Stones” as the beach filled with children, pensioners who remember the Stones from their early days and European and North American tourists.
About 4 000 guests filled a special VIP zone. Among celebrities on hand were Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro and Brazilian TV presenter and model Luciana Gimenez, Jagger’s former lover and the mother of his young son Lucas. Some local media reports said it was the first time Lucas had seen his dad in concert.
”Today there’s only one language: rock,” said Luiz, one student fan.
Hundreds of hawkers peddled drinks, binoculars, T-shirts and Stones posters and memorabilia.
”Buy some and you won’t regret it. It’s the only and final chance there will be a show like this,” said T-shirt vendor Valdir, who started work at dawn.
Ricardo, a 37-year-old businessman from Bahia, said he had slept rough for two days before the event because he could not get a room.
Before the concert, fans laid siege to the Copacabana Palace Hotel, hoping for a glimpse of Jagger and the rest, who arrived on Friday amid tight security.
Wood appeared on a balcony and threw a private party on Friday night. Jagger went out to dinner and then withdrew to his suite with friends.
The Stones had just performed in Puerto Rico and will follow Brazil with two shows in Buenos Aires and two in Mexico.
There were more than 2 750 police officers and 480 firefighters and paramedics on duty along the beach for the huge crowd. The concert is to be shown at more than 150 cinemas in the United States and made into a DVD.
But it was far from the biggest concert in history. The Guinness World Records website said that honour goes to British rocker Rod Stewart, who drew an estimated 3,5-million people to Copacabana in 1994. — Sapa-AFP