The Rolling Stones: Havana Moon

The concert was suggested by lawyer Gregory Elias to Rolling Stones manager Joyce Smyth during a phone call on 13 November 2015. Elias suggested that the Stones play a free concert in Cuba, which he would cover the costs of – to which Smyth responded "Well, that's certainly a unique proposal".{{Cite news|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article68883632.html|title=Meet the lawyer who paid for the Rolling Stones concert in Havana|work=Miami Herald|access-date=2017-08-06|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822221018/http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article68883632.html|archive-date=2016-08-22}} The concert was bankrolled by Elias' charitable organization, Fundashon Bon Intenshon. There was some speculation that the move on Elias' part was politically motivated, to which he responded in a statement that he only wanted to do something good for the Cuban people and did not have any business relations in the country.

The concert was planned for several months prior to its public announcement while the band was on their 2016 tour of South America, titled América Latina Olé Tour 2016.{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/rolling-stones-cuba-concert-havana-free-mick-jagger-keith-richards-a6905651.html|title=The Rolling Stones are playing a free open air concert in Cuba|date=2016-03-01|work=The Independent|access-date=2017-08-06|language=en-GB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001234848/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/rolling-stones-cuba-concert-havana-free-mick-jagger-keith-richards-a6905651.html|archive-date=2016-10-01}} The bands' manager, Joyce Smyth, and Concerts West worked extensively with the Cuban government in order for the show to be approved, due to the Cuban government still having control over what its citizens listen to.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7311505/rolling-stones-free-concert-cuba-havana-raul-castro-mick-jagger-ciudad-deportiva-de-la-habana|title=Inside The Rolling Stones' Historic Free Concert in Cuba|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2017-08-06|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711120434/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7311505/rolling-stones-free-concert-cuba-havana-raul-castro-mick-jagger-ciudad-deportiva-de-la-habana|archive-date=2017-07-11}} The embargo on Cuba proved to be a technical challenge for the band and stage crews since they had to ship all of their equipment from Belgium and could not rely on local infrastructure to assist to the degree that they are used to in more developed areas.

The concert took place five days{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/03/19/obamas-schedule-historic-trip-havana-cuba/81998970/|title=Obama's schedule for historic trip to Havana, Cuba|work=USA Today|access-date=2017-08-07|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723194301/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/03/19/obamas-schedule-historic-trip-havana-cuba/81998970/|archive-date=2016-07-23}} after President Barack Obama visited Cuba, marking the first time a sitting United States president had visited the island nation since the 30th President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, visited the nation 88 years earlier, in 1928.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/international/obama-in-cuba|title=Obama Visits Cuba|website=The New York Times |access-date=2017-06-13|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170601152502/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/international/obama-in-cuba|archive-date=2017-06-01}}{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/happened-time-us-president-visited-cuba/story?id=27689730|title=The Last Time an American President Visited Cuba|date=2016-03-22|website=ABC News|access-date=2017-06-13|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703080356/http://abcnews.go.com/International/happened-time-us-president-visited-cuba/story?id=27689730|archive-date=2017-07-03}} After it was announced that President Obama would arrive on 20 March 2016, the decision was made to reschedule the concert to 25 March, due to security concerns.Jagger, M. & Richards, K. & Watts, C. & Wood, R. & Jakobek, J. & Smyth, J. & Worsley, P. (Producers), & Dugdale, P. (Director). (2016). Olé Olé Olé!: A Trip Across Latin America [Motion Picture]. World-wide: Eagle Rock Entertainment. Shortly before the rescheduled concert date, Pope Francis attempted to delay it, asking that the band play on a later date as the concert was scheduled for 25 March, which was Good Friday, a major and solemn Christian holiday. The Vatican also suggested that the band delay the start of their concert until midnight to avoid the holy day.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/pope-tries-stop-rolling-stones-7631651|title=Pope Francis makes last-ditch bid to stop Rolling Stones from playing in Cuba|last=Bryant|first=Tom|date=2016-03-25|work=mirror|access-date=2017-06-13|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422013027/http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/pope-tries-stop-rolling-stones-7631651|archive-date=2017-04-22}} However, the Stones opted to play the concert at the originally scheduled date and time.

Prior to the show, the band were guests of honour at the British embassy in Cuba, which held a meet and greet on 24 March 2016 for approximately 200 people, many being Cuban musicians. The Rolling Stones also started a "musician-to-musician" charity initiative in which musical instruments were donated by major instrument suppliers to Cuban musicians of all genres.{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/the-rolling-stones-cuba-concert-2016-3|title=The Rolling Stones are going to play Cuba for the first time — and it'll make history|work=Business Insider|access-date=2017-08-06|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223133502/http://www.businessinsider.com/the-rolling-stones-cuba-concert-2016-3/|archive-date=2016-12-23}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.rollingstones.com/2016/03/01/the-rolling-stones-announce-free-concert-in-cuba/|title=The Rolling Stones announce free concert in Cuba! {{!}} The Rolling Stones|website=The Rolling Stones|language=en|access-date=2017-08-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706044533/http://www.rollingstones.com/2016/03/01/the-rolling-stones-announce-free-concert-in-cuba/|archive-date=2017-07-06}}

Havana Moon had a limited one night premiere in over one thousand theatres internationally 23 September 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rollingstones.com/2016/07/28/the-rolling-stones-in-cuba-concert-film-havana-moon-to-be-premiered-in-cinemas-for-one-night-only/|title=Havana Moon in cinemas for one night only {{!}} The Rolling Stones|website=The Rolling Stones|access-date=2017-08-07|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729141454/http://www.rollingstones.com/2016/07/28/the-rolling-stones-in-cuba-concert-film-havana-moon-to-be-premiered-in-cinemas-for-one-night-only/|archive-date=2016-07-29}}{{Cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/rolling-stones-havana-moon-movie/|title=Rolling Stones Cuba Concert Film 'Havana Moon' to Play in Theaters|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|access-date=2017-08-07|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730223350/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/rolling-stones-havana-moon-movie/|archive-date=2016-07-30}} The film made its United States television premiere on the premium cable television service Starz 22 January 2017, but could be downloaded on the Starz app 15 January 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2016/12/the-rolling-stones-ole-havana-moon-documentary-premiere-dates-starz-1201874495/|title='The Rolling Stones Olé' & 'Havana Moon' Docus Get Premiere Dates On Starz|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=2016-12-21|work=Deadline|access-date=2017-08-07|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204021318/http://deadline.com/2016/12/the-rolling-stones-ole-havana-moon-documentary-premiere-dates-starz-1201874495/|archive-date=2017-02-04}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.rollingstones.com/2017/01/06/exclusive-u-s-television-premiere-of-ole-oleole-documentary-havana-moon/|title=U.S. TELEVISION PREMIERE OF ¡OLÉ, OLÉ, OLÉ! & HAVANA MOON {{!}} The Rolling Stones|website=The Rolling Stones|access-date=2017-08-07|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228015024/http://www.rollingstones.com/2017/01/06/exclusive-u-s-television-premiere-of-ole-oleole-documentary-havana-moon/|archive-date=2017-02-28}} The sound track of the film was released on the iTunes Store and the music streaming service Spotify{{Citation|title=Havana Moon (Live)|date=2016-11-11|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/2VUSQpZEZRVfPt8NWas33D|access-date=2017-08-07|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707030833/https://open.spotify.com/album/2VUSQpZEZRVfPt8NWas33D|archive-date=2017-07-07}} 11 November 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/havana-moon-live/1172604900|title=Havana Moon (Live) by The Rolling Stones on Apple Music|website=iTunes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905055239/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/havana-moon-live/id1172604900|archive-date=2017-09-05|url-status=live|access-date=2017-08-07}} The film was released on DVD, Blu-ray, DVD+2CD, DVD+3LP, Digital Video, and Digital Audio.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rolling-stones-prep-release-of-historic-cuba-show-w442231|title=Rolling Stones Prep Release of Historic Cuba Show|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=2017-07-09|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161212180536/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rolling-stones-prep-release-of-historic-cuba-show-w442231|archive-date=2016-12-12}}

The concert itself was attended by a crowd estimated to have consisted of over 500,000 concert-goers{{Cite web|url=http://www.rollingstones.com/havanamoon/|title=Havana Moon {{!}} The Rolling Stones|website=The Rolling Stones|language=en|access-date=2017-06-13|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803085515/http://www.rollingstones.com/havanamoon/|archive-date=2017-08-03}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/live-reviews/rolling-stones-thrill-huge-crowd-at-historic-havana-show-20160326|title=Rolling Stones Thrill Huge Crowd at Historic Havana Show|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=2017-06-13|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613173256/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/live-reviews/rolling-stones-thrill-huge-crowd-at-historic-havana-show-20160326|archive-date=2017-06-13}} and marked the first time a foreign rock band had performed an open-air concert in Cuba to a crowd of that size,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/arts/music/another-first-for-cuba-a-concert-by-the-rolling-stones.html|title=Another First for Cuba: A Concert by the Rolling Stones|last=Robles|first=Frances|date=2016-03-26|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-06-13|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124013444/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/arts/music/another-first-for-cuba-a-concert-by-the-rolling-stones.html|archive-date=2016-11-24}}{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/rolling-stones-ole-toronto-1201858075/|title=Toronto Film Review: 'The Rolling Stones Olé Olé Olé!: A Trip Across Latin America'|last=Barker|first=Andrew|date=2016-09-12|work=Variety|access-date=2017-06-13|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117182414/http://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/rolling-stones-ole-toronto-1201858075/|archive-date=2016-11-17}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-rollingstones-idUSKCN0W34Y2|title=Rolling Stones announce historic free concert in Havana|date=2016-03-01|work=Reuters|access-date=2017-08-06|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417142015/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-rollingstones-idUSKCN0W34Y2|archive-date=2016-04-17}} breaking the previous record of the Italian singer Zucchero Fornaciari who performed to a crowd of nearly 70,000 goers in 2012.

The film received critical acclaim from multiple publications, including The New York Times, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, and The Daily Telegraph. The New York Times stated that "The Rolling Stones gave a stunning performance". The Guardian remarked that the show was "spectacular and historic."{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/26/rolling-stones-enjoy-historic-cuba-gig-havana-obama|title=Pleased to meet you: Rolling Stones treat Cuba to spectacular and historic gig|last=Watts|first=Jonathan|date=2016-03-26|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-06-13|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710181516/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/26/rolling-stones-enjoy-historic-cuba-gig-havana-obama|archive-date=2017-07-10}} Rolling Stone magazine praised the concert, stating that it was "no ordinary concert" and had a significant impact for music in Cuba. {{blockquote|text="This was no ordinary concert. People hugged and shared looks of disbelief. Coming at the end of a run of shows in South America and Mexico, last night might have marked at least a temporary pause for the legendary group, but it had all the markings of a new chapter for music in Cuba."|source=Rolling Stone, 26 March 2016|author=Richard L. Dewey}}

{{blockquote|text=“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.”|source=The Rolling Stones official statement, 1 March 2016}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Havana Moon album track listing

| total_length = 119:22

| all_writing = Jagger/Richards

| title1 = Jumpin' Jack Flash

| length1 = 4:46

| title2 = It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)

| length2 = 4:35

| title3 = Tumbling Dice

| length3 = 5:03

| title4 = Out of Control

| length4 = 7:13

| title5 = All Down The Line

| length5 = 5:22

| title6 = Angie

| length6 = 3:29

| title7 = Paint It Black

| length7 = 5:32

| title8 = Honky Tonk Women

| length8 = 4:57

| title9 = You Got the Silver

| length9 = 3:29

| title10 = Before They Make Me Run

| length10 = 4:02

| title11 = Midnight Rambler

| length11 = 15:29

| title12 = Miss You

| length12 = 8:20

| title13 = Gimme Shelter

| length13 = 8:04

| title14 = Start Me Up

| length14 = 4:21

| title15 = Sympathy for the Devil

| length15 = 7:55

| title16 = Brown Sugar

| length16 = 7:13

| title17 = You Can't Always Get What You Want

| length17 = 8:57

| title18 = (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

| length18 = 10:28

}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{YouTube playlist|playlist=OLAK5uy_lxet1Yk-L85H4Fwju8-xQ3baAIJG5LD9M|title=Havana Moon (Live)}}
• {{IMDb title|5929796|The Rolling Stones: Havana Moon}}

{{The Rolling Stones}}

{{The Rolling Stones albums}}

{{Authority control}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Rolling Stones Havana Moon}}

Category:2016 in Cuba

Category:2016 live albums

Category:2016 video albums

Category:Concert films

Category:Eagle Rock Entertainment live albums

Category:Eagle Rock Entertainment video albums

Category:Events in Havana

Category:2010s live video albums

Category:March 2016 in North America

Category:The Rolling Stones films

Category:The Rolling Stones live albums

Category:The Rolling Stones video albums

Category:2010s English-language films

Category:2010s British films