"It's our 53rd concert in France, but it's certainly the hottest", launched Mick Jagger in French to nearly 50,000 spectators visibly in heaven despite a mercury displaying 36 degrees at the start of the concert.

The first notes were those of a moving tribute to the original drummer of the Stones, the discreet Charlie Watts who died last year, with archive images broadcast on the screens of the gigantic stage.

"We've been playing together for 60 years, we miss him so much," Jagger said.

Last of their leader, visibly very well recovered from his Covid in mid-June, and still as invigorating in his immutable gestures, the famous rock grandpas played classics and hits: "Street fighting man", "Tumbling dice", "Angie ", "Jumpin' Jack flash", Start me up"... largely meeting the expectations of the fans.

But the magic really worked in the oven of the Groupama at the time of the eternal "You can't always get what you wan't" and during a very spirited "Midnight rambler" with Jagger on harmonica.

Singer Mick Jagger (c) between guitarists Ron Wood (g) and Keith Richards during a Rolling Stones concert in Décines-Charpieu, in the suburbs of Lyon, on July 19, 2022 JEFF PACHOUD AFP

And for these fans who had paid their tickets from 95 to 330 euros, it doesn't matter if Keith Richards is no longer so surgical, and if the group is now largely supported by the sound settings, the scenography and the choristers.

As a final bouquet, a very nervous "Paint it black" and an ultimate "Satisfaction" definitely won the song after about 1:45 of show.

"It's the real ones"

"It's a lifetime, it's a lot of generations. We'll never find bands like that again," raved after the concert Philippe Beauchamps, a 28-year-old funeral director.

"+ Sex rock and rock and roll +, it's them, what! They're the real ones!", Claimed for her part Virginie Bonnefoux, 40, while Arthur Brunet, thirty-year-old who works in real estate, boasted of the singer's longevity.

"At 78, Mick Jagger I would like to do like him. It's huge what he does!"

The grandpa rockers had not performed in the capital of Gaul for 15 years, and Lyon fans had no illusions about their chances of seeing in the flesh "Mick" and "Keith", who will blow their 80 candles in 2023.

"It's probably the last time we see them even if I would like them to come back once", conceded in particular Pascal Nicoud, 52-year-old business manager.

Halfway through, the Stones played "Living in a Ghost Town," their last original track, the lyrics of which may herald the approach of the epilogue of a band that has held firm for six decades.

"Please let this be over" / "Stuck in a world without end"...

The 14-date mini-tour, dubbed "Sixty" ("Sixty"), continues on Saturday at the Hippodrome de Paris-Longchamp, and will end on August 3 in Berlin.

© 2022 AFP