AT 8.30pm sharp the Rolling Stones Big Bang Tour hit Cardiff and did exactly what it said on the tin. With two massive explosions the stage filled with smoke, and Keith Richards appeared and thrashed out the instantly recognisable chords to Jumpin' Jack Flash. By the time Mick Jagger danced out the capacity crowd were on their feet and The Stones hit Wales with a bang. "Croeso Cymru," shouted Mick to the crowd, as they belted out It's Only Rock 'n' Roll But I Like It, Keith and Ronnie Wood changing guitars for the first of many times to suit the particular songs they were playing. "Its 16 years since we played here " said Mick "Then it was called Cardiff Arms Park." Another Stones classic, Let's Spend The Night Together, followed, allowing Mick to dance and strut his way across the huge stage - beneath two huge towers and a giant screen - which spanned the width of the millennium pitch. The band included legends beside Mick, Keith Ronnie and Charlie - keyboard player Chuck Lavell, Jones the Bass and sax player, Bobby Keys. Keith lit a fag and joked to the crowd: "It's great to be here - it's great to be anywhere," as he led the intro to Tumbling Dice. Mick took a two-song break and Keith took over vocals. His singing is, to say the least, an acquired taste, but the crowd loved him. When the band were back together a Chuck Lavell keyboard solo started Miss You, and to the crowd's amazement the band traversed the length of the pitch on a moving platform. When Brown Sugar brought the set to a close, nobody was sitting down - including rocker Alice Cooper, who was in the crowd. As the band left the stage to a rapturous reception, Mick shouted: "Diolch yn fawr, you've been a great audience!" They finished off with Satisfaction. Mick ran the length of the pitch singing and Charlie threw his drumsticks to the crowd, before fireworks ended the concert. The Stones had hit Wales with a big bang - two hours of non-stop energy from a band with a combined age of over 240. How do they do it? | 
