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Rolling Stones to play free open air concert in Cuba

Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood will play in Havana on March 25

Tuesday 01 March 2016 18:39 GMT

The Rolling Stones concert comes only days after President Barack Obama's recently announced visit to Cuba (Getty Images)

The Rolling Stones will become the first British band to play an open air concert in Cuba.

Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood will play for free at the Ciudad Deportiva de la Habana in Havana on March 25.

In a statement, The Rolling Stones said: "We have performed in many special places during our long career, but this show in Havana is going to be a landmark event for us, and, we hope, for all our friends in Cuba too."

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The Rolling Stones pictured in Crossfire Hurricane

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The Rolling Stones in 1964

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The Rolling Stones performing in concert in 1964

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Guitarist Mick Taylor, 62, joined the Rolling Stones (second left) when he was 20

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The legendary 'glimmer twins' Keith and Mick in 1961.

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The Rolling Stones, Baker Street, London, 1963

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Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones signing an autograph for a young fan, at Dublin Airport, during the band's second Irish tour of 1965.

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Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones exiting the airport bus at Dublin Airport before their concert at the Adelphi Theatre during the band's second Irish tour of 1965.

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The Rolling Stones receiving awards at the NME Poll Winners Concert at Wembley, London, in 1965.

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The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger in 1967

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Rock of ages: The Rolling Stones in Hyde Park in 1969

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The Rolling Stones at the Roundhouse in London in 1971: from the left, Keys, Charlie Watts, Mick Taylor and Mick Jagger

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Jagger on stage with the Rolling Stones in 1978

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Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones sits in the stands of JFK Stadium in Philadelphia in afternoon on Wednesday, August 26, 1981, where he is scheduled to hold a concert on September 25 to kickoff his 1981 American tour.

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Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger performs in front of a crowd of 70,000 at Wembley Stadium in 1982

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Jagger performing on stage during the opening night of the bands new tour, 'Voodoo Lounge' in 1995

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The Rolling Stones perform on stage at Twickenham Stadium in 2006 in London

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Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones perform live at 02 Arena on in 2012

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The Rolling Stones performing at the O2 arena, at their 50-year anniversary show in 2012

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The Rolling Stones perform live on stage during day two of British Summer Time Hyde Park on July 6, 2013

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The Rolling Stones perform at Glastonbury in 2013

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The Rolling Stones at Glastonbury in 2013.

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'Rolling Stones 50 & Counting Tour' at The Honda Center on May 15, 2013 in Anaheim, California.

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The Rolling Stones performing in California in 2013.

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Keith Richards on stage in 2013.

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Suits you: Mick Jagger (far right) with his bandmates in 2014.

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The Rolling Stones at Glastonbury in 2014.

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The Rolling Stones on stage in 2014.

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The Rolling Stones at Glasotnbury in 2013.

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The Rolling Stones concert, which has been in the planning stages for several months, comes only days after President Barack Obama's recently announced visit to Cuba.

The band are also leading a musician to musician initiative in which musical instruments and equipment are being donated by major suppliers for the benefit of Cuban musicians of all genres.

Donors include The Gibson Foundation, Vic Firth, Zildjian, Latin Percussion, Roland and Boss, with additional assistance from the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation.

The Rolling Stones are currently on tour in South America for their America Latina Ole tour, which is receiving rave reviews.

They have played to huge audiences in cities including Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo and Rio De Janeiro, with Lima, Bogota and Mexico City following next week.

The Rolling Stones Concert For Amity will be filmed and produced by award winning production company JA Digital.

Paul Dugdale, the filmmaker who helmed One Direction: Where We Are is directing.

The Rolling Stones perform surprise show in Los Angeles

The producers will be Simon Fisher of Ed Sheeran: Live at Wembley Stadium fame, and Sam Bridger who produced The Rolling Stones: Sweet Summer Sun - Hyde Park Live.

Julie Jakobek of JA Digital said: "It's a great honour to be working with the Rolling Stones again on this hugely exciting and historic event".

In the years following the Cuban Revolution, which culminated with Fidel Castro becoming prime minister in 1959, rock music was viewed as a symbol of Western capitalism in the Communist country.

Following the Cuba concert, The Rolling Stones will fly to London to open Exhibitionism, the band's first ever exhibition, at the Saatchi Gallery on April 4.

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