BRAZIL: Rolling Stones arrive in Rio de Janeiro ahead of free concert on Copacabana beach

Record ID: 784159

  • Title: BRAZIL: Rolling Stones arrive in Rio de Janeiro ahead of free concert on Copacabana beach
  • Date: 23rd February 2006
  • Summary: WIDE OF STAGE MAN WORKING
  • Embargoed: 10th March 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA39SKC53CJKTW1HFRWXRILY0EO
  • Story Text: Roll over, bossa nova, Stones fever takes over. The Rolling Stones landed in Rio de Janeiro's on Friday (February 17) for Saturday's free concert in famed Copacabana beach. The gig, to be filmed for release as a DVD, promises to be a historic rock'n'roll extravaganza.
    Organizers expect more than one and a half million people to fill the beach area for the free show by the ageing but still agile rockers -- one of the biggest crowds ever for a rock show.
    "Rolling Stones is for me a whole rock generation. I have everything, practically every one of their albums, I listen to them frequently, my teenage sons age 16 and 17 listen to them too," said fan Autemar Jose.
    Final preparations are being made to the stage constructed on the sand opposite the elegant Copacabana Palace Hotel where the band will stay. They will cross from their suites on the sixth floor of the Copacabana Palace Hotel on a purpose-built walkway over Atlantic Avenue onto the seven-story-high stage on the beach.
    Behind the excitement lies concern over security. Rio is scarred by violent crime and gunplay often spills over from the slums ruled by drug gangs into city streets. More than 6,600 people were killed last year in a population of six million.
    Copacabana, where the gentle bossa nova sound was created in the 1950's, is now a haunt for prostitutes and drug dealers.
    A huge security operation will be mounted with up to 15,000 police on duty. They might even occupy some of the favelas, or slums, close to Copacabana.
    A previous free Stones show, at Altamont in California in 1969, entered the annals of rock history after Hells Angels hired as security guards clubbed fans with pool cues. A fan was stabbed to death as he appeared to point a gun at the stage.
    Though sex and drugs are an important part of Stone's lore, the band will avoid the action on Copacabana's main drag.
    The Stones's show is a mixture of decadence, debauchery and corporate branding. The concert is being financed by the Rio municipality and communications companies Claro and Motorola. For many, that's indicative of how the Stones have moved from being bad boys to businessmen over the decades.
    The legendary band-- Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ron Wood and support musicians -- have been playing across the United States on the "Bigger Bang" tour and performed at the Super Bowl half-time show on Feb. 4.
    The "Bigger Bang" album, hailed by critics as their best in years, won a Grammy last week.
    This will be their third time in Brazil. Jagger has a young son, Lucas, from a liaison with Brazilian model Luciana Gimenez. The two will be among the 4,000 special guests, celebrities and sponsors who will be treated to a lavish buffet in a special enclosure next to the stage.
    Some question Rio city's involvement in the show. Even Rio's Secretary for Security Marcelo Itagiba has questioned the decision to host such an event in Copacabana. One letter to Folha de S.Paulo newspaper suggested the money would be better spent on improving favelas and community projects.
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