VIVA LOS STONES!
VIVA LA CUBA!

The Rolling Stones are going to Cuba. The band will do its first-ever show in the island nation on 3/25 at the Ciudad Deportiva de la Habana. The surprise free show—which also happens to be the first outdoor concert in Cuba by a British rock band—is an additional date on The Stones’ America Latina Ole tour of South and Central America.

“We have performed in many special places during our long career,” said The Stones in this morning’s announcement, “but this show in Havana is going to be a landmark event for us, and, we hope, for all our friends in Cuba too.”

The Concert for Amity, as it’s being billed, will be filmed and recorded, naturally.

Mick, Keith, Charlie and Woody are also leading what the press materials describe as a musician-to-musician initiative in which much-needed musical instruments and gear are being donated by major suppliers including Gibson, Vic Firth, RS Berkeley, Pearl, Zildjian, Gretsch, Latin Percussion, Roland and BOSS for the benefit of Cuban musicians. The Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation is assisting in the effort.

The one-off show’s promoters are AEG's Concerts West and Musica Punto Zero, with support from the Institute of Cuban Music.