The Rolling Stones rocked the night away on Saturday on fabled Copacabana beach with more than 1.2 million fans in one of the biggest concerts the world has ever seen.
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 US$4.6 million to put on.
PHOTO: AP
Concert-goers did not pay, but the Stones still took a paycheck as the Rio city authorities and two mobile telephone 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 and 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 favorites 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.
"Today there's only one language: rock," said Luiz, a 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.
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