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Rio
de Janiero - The Rolling Stones may have sent an all-time record
for the largest crowd at a Rock concert last Saturday (February
18th) by drawing more than 1.2 million fans for their concert
on Copacabana beach, officials said. The two-hour show featured
no less than 20 songs including "Jumping Jack Flash",
"It's Only Rock 'N Roll (But I Like It)", "Wild
Horses","Get Off Of My Cloud" and "Start Me
Up" and two encores ("You Can't Always Get What You
Want" and "Satisfaction") which kept the always-happy
Cariocas dancing for more.
The
show was basically similar to the one the Stones have been doing
since their A Bigger Bang tour started back in August, including
the use of the ramps and an elongated stage in the middle of the
audience, but there were a few notable differences -- lead singer
Mick Jagger made sure to speak to the crowd in their native Portuguese,
and Jagger wore a T-shirt that featured the Brazilian flag and
national colors.
There
are reports that a DVD of the Rio concert will be released later
this year.
According to the Guinness Book Of World Records, Rod Stewart holds
the record for the largest concert audience, dating back to December
1994 when 3.5 million people saw him play on that same world famous
beach. But Stewart's show was part of that year's New Year's Eve
event which annually carries over to the beach districts of Ipanema
and Arpoador. Rio's usual fireworks displays served as the backdrop
for the festivities.
Although
this was only the third time the Stones have ever played in Brazil,
Jagger has been traveling to the country for almost 40 years.
Also, he fathered a son with Brazilian model Lucia Morad in the
late '90s, which led to the breakup of his marriage to Jerry Hall.
Lucia and Lucas Morad were in the crowd for the concert, and Jagger
also visited the private school Lucas attends.
But
the Rolling Stones were not the only legendary rockers to visit
Rio as the city began its yearly ramp up for Carnaval week.
Irish
supergroup U2 rocked a Brazilian carnival last Thursday, to the
delight of thousands of Brazilian fans. Both bands are touring
South America.
U2's
Bono took time off from their Vertigo tour to sing a duet with
Brazilian pop star Ivette Sanggalo at the Carnaval celebration
in Salvador, Bahia. He was invited to Salvador's Carnival by Brazil's
Minister of Culture, Gilberto Gil, whose own success as an international
singing star was showcased with a Grammy win for 'Best World Music
Alubm' earlier this month.
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