LE PALAIS DES SPORTS, PARIS – MARCH 1970

Riots started early that evening with “les forces de l’ordre” facing a bunch of frugal and frustrated leftist groups of various origines, in a typically tense parisian night. After a few arrests were made and insults properly traded on both sides, the Stones agreed to let in, with no ticket, five hundred extra souls with the blessing of the authority.

This was not forgotten or ignored by the police force which retaliated two days later in Lyon. Things got so ugly, Mick ended up with seven stitches just above the right eye after a well aimed stick split the flesh open in the middle of “Let it bleed”. There was no arrest.

It was just another night on the road.