Stones Roll Over for Chinese Censors
Mick Jagger made light at a press conference Friday of the Chinese government's censorship of the Rolling Stones' setlist for their first concert in China by responding that they have over 400 songs they can play.
Jagger said Chinese officials have asked them not to play four selected songs from the band's 2002 greatest hits collection, '40 Licks' at Saturday's concert in Shanghai.
Mick Jagger made light at a press conference Friday of the Chinese government's censorship of the Rolling Stones' setlist for their first concert in China by responding that they have over 400 songs they can play.
Jagger said Chinese officials have asked them not to play four selected songs from the band's 2002 greatest hits collection, '40 Licks' at Saturday's concert in Shanghai. An original request to alter the song list was made ahead of the band's planned 2003 China concerts, but those shows were canceled due to the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
The four songs cut were 'Brown Sugar,' 'Honky Tonk Woman,' 'Beast of Burden,' and 'Let's Spend the Night Together,' apparently due to their suggestive lyrics.
The band's current tour started in the U.S. in August, and has wound its way through Central and South America and Japan, including a free concert for more than 1 million people on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.