Stones take festival centre stage

By Fiona Pryor
BBC News entertainment reporter in the Isle of Wight

Jagger performed hits including Brown Sugar and Satisfaction Festival in pictures

The Rolling Stones have performed their first British festival date in more than 30 years.

The band took to the stage at the Isle of Wight Festival after transporting their 200-strong tour entourage to the site by privately-chartered ferry.

It was their first appearance at a festival since 1976's Knebworth Fair.

Amy Winehouse and Paolo Nutini appeared for duets, and the Stones walked up a telescopic catwalk to play in the middle of the 60,000-strong crowd.

The show finished on Sunday night with a fireworks display, rounding off a three-day festival which has seen performances by Muse, Snow Patrol, Groove Armada and Kasabian.

God knows how he runs around so much, he's fitter than the entire England rugby team Fan on Mick Jagger

But the Rolling Stones drew the biggest crowd of the festival so far - and the biggest cheer.

They kept expectant fans waiting before appearing on stage 20 minutes late, amid a spectacular fireworks display and a rapturous welcome.

Lead singer Mick Jagger joked with the audience: "I think we're the 24th act - that's a lot of acts. I hope you've got a lot more in the tank."

Before the gig, guitarist Keith Richards told Virgin Radio that playing in the UK was always "a bit more special".

"We just carry Britain with us, really, our own little bubble of it.

'Amazing'

Amy Winehouse, who played the festival earlier, joined the band

Jagger gave an energetic performance, constantly interacting with the audience, dancing and strutting around the stage.

"God knows how he runs around so much, he's fitter than the entire England rugby team", Matt Jarvis, from Somerset, told the BBC.

Another fan, Rebecca Maddison, 34, from Plymouth, was standing next to the stage and said seeing the band up close was "absolutely amazing".

At one point Jagger joked: "This is a good festival. I did find it though a bit expensive, £2 for a bottle of water, £4 for a burger and the dog ate my dope".

The legendary rockers played for 90 minutes, rattling through hits like Satisfaction and Brown Sugar.

During their 1968 hit, Sympathy for a Devil, Jagger changed into a long red jacket.

The stage was immersed in red light and balls of fire shot into the sky - warming up the late-night crowd.

Brett Harris, who admits to owning every single Rolling Stones album ever released, was one of many satisfied fans.

"My first gig was the Rolling Stones at Wembley Stadium in 1995. They were fantastic," he said.

"I had a bit of a bet as to what I thought they would open with. Their first song was Start Me Up so I won the bet," he added.

New fans

Keith Richards was accompanied by a 200-strong entourage

Famous faces amongst the crowd included Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty, actresses Sienna Miller and Anna Friel and comedian Griff Rhys Jones.

At the end of the gig the band members embraced and bowed to rapturous applause.

The Stones even managed to convert some new fans with their performance.

"The kids absolutely loved it, although they don't know who the Rolling Stones actually are," said Leanne Standish, 42, who brought her children from London to see the band.

Gavin Way, 26, said: "I think that was probably the best gig I have ever been to by a long way. Never seen the Rolling Stones before and it's probably the last chance I'll get to see them again".

Last week, The Stones caused a 30-mile traffic jam as fans queued to see them in the Belgian town of Werchter, at the beginning of the latest European leg of their tour.

After dates in France, Germany, Spain, Serbia and Russia, the band will return to the UK to play three shows at London's O2 arena - the former Millennium Dome - in August.