China: Despite censorship, Mick Jagger still wowed the crowd, writes Clifford Coonan in Shanghai.
The Rolling Stones blew Shanghai's rock faithful away with songs of sex, Satan and bad-boy living as the veteran rockers made a powerful Chinese debut that banished fears of a clampdown by censors.
Watching Sir Mick Jagger strut and pout his way across the stage in China's biggest city as Keith Richard hammered out killer licks to a crowd of 8,000 was one of the most telling images yet of how China is opening up. For many years rock'n'roll was dismissed as "spiritual pollution".
Some old habits die hard. The Stones opened with Start Me Up, which some said was one of the songs that Chinese authorities censored beforehand. In fairness, the song's raunchier elements were also muzzled by American organisers when the Stones played the half-time concert at the Superbowl in February.
Sir Mick was nonplussed. "Dajia hao ma (How are you)? It's nice to be here, the first time we've played in China," he told the boisterous crowd, which was mostly made up of expatriates.
Ticket prices were well beyond the pockets of most Chinese, starting at 300 yuan, or €30, and running to a hefty €300 and even €500 on the black market.
A highlight for Chinese fans was when home-grown rock idol Cui Jian joined the band on stage. The singer, whose songs became anthems for student protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989 and who was banned until recently, struggled with the lyrics of Wild Horses but made up for it with emotional weight.
The playlist of 18 songs was basically a greatest hits of the Rolling Stones' remarkable 44-year career, including classics such as Sympathy for the Devil, Gimme Shelter, Tumbling Dice, Jumpin' Jack Flash and, of course, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction.
Censors said they could not perform Honky Tonk Woman, Brown Sugar, Beast of Burden, Let's Spend the Night Together and Start Me Up because of fears the raunchy lyrics could upset delicate sensibilities.
China has opened up in many ways but remains puritanical on moral issues. Sir Mick made light of the ban before the show.
"This time we hoped there would be no censorship. I'm pleased the ministry of culture is doing so much to protect the morals of expatriate bankers and their girlfriends. Fortunately, we have 400 more songs that we can play so it's not really an issue," he quipped.
"The censorship didn't detract from the show. It's a different country. There weren't a lot of locals there, the tickets were very expensive and I think it would have been nice to involve the locals more," said Debbie Beswick, from Bakewell in Derbyshire, who lives in Shanghai with her husband, Steve. Her American friend, Flora, said the show was "wonderful".
"I'm not a huge Stones fan but when they came out, I was totally awestruck and I'm in my 50s. It was a much better crowd than Elton John - the Chinese people got into it. We saw people playing cards at Elton John and at Lord of the Dance," she added.
It was third time lucky for the Stones in China after two failed attempts - in 1980, and in 2003 when Sars meant they didn't play.
"It was fabulous. I didn't even want to come but I'm so glad my wife pressured me.
"It's an old format but the sound was wonderful, and my ears are still ringing," said Simon Shaw, from Wokingham, who works for a packaging company in Shanghai.
Terence Duff from New York sings and plays guitar with Wedge, a classic blues and rock band who gig at pubs and clubs around Shanghai. The city is China's financial hub and sees itself as the cosmopolitan heart of the country.
"This was a dream come true for me. I wanted to see them in 2003 but then Sars stopped it. I was heartbroken," he said.
"We do Stones' songs in our set and we're going to change our format now, get some brass in, some more backing vocals. And we're going to start doing Midnight Rambler," he said.