It has taken me a while to face this and actually review it after initially watching it a few months ago after the death of Charlie Watts who was an integral part of the band – well that's very much an understatement to say the least.

 

This show was performed in front of a staggering 1.5 million people (if that is at all possible in one go in front of a stage – a free concert next to the Copacabana Palace (A Belmond Hotel) on February 18th, 2006 to folk on the Atlantic Shore that spans 2 ½ miles in Rio De Janeiro. It's the Stones, so of course it's possible!

 

Beginning with 'Jumping Jack Flash' and closing of course with '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' they delivered a trophy-filled set that included the sadly now dropped 'Brown Sugar' that needs to go back firmly in along with newer numbers at the time like 'Oh No Not You Again' or 'This Place Is Empty' sung by Keith alongside 'Happy' of course with Ronnie on a laptop steel.

 

They are as ever bang on form with Mick totally wearing you out just by watching him groove and move and dance all over that massive stage and even chats to them in Brazilian too – proving he put the work in. Various song highlights are a sure thing too like 'Wild Horses' with Mr. Richards on acoustic, their cover of 'Night Time Is The Right Time' by Ray Charles with Lisa Fischer stealing the limelight with her voice and overall presence.

 

Or what about 'Miss You' with the Stones on a moving stage that goes out into the audience that was about the size of one in a pub (okay a little bigger) with a canopy over it with the crowd keeping the security guy busy who is having to clear the stage quite a bit with stuff thrown on there for the boys.

 

Mick even says at the end of 'Rough Justice', “Watch Out For The Flying Shoe!' Nice hat during 'Sympathy..' too! Not that Mr. Jagger wears it for very long. Cool touch in him wearing a Rio shirt as well as seeing loads of shirts being helicoptered in the audience too.

 

The good thing about watching the DVD that is just under 2 hours long is that you can enjoy the show without getting sand in your feet or possibly wet from the sea. It also comes with an outstanding 2-CD Set of the gig too that's perfect for those moments when you don't have access to the TV Screen!

 

Well worth reading is the enclosed article about the procedure for how they pulled this one-off show off called 'Stones In Rio' by Paul Sexton which proves it was nothing short of utterly remarkable.

 

R.I.P. Charlie Watts.