treated fans at a concert this week to the first live rendition of a song in 25 years.
Fronted by , the, who formed in London in 1962, have enjoyed decades of success.
Hits such as (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction , Paint it, Black and Gimme Shelter saw the rock band enter the 1970s as one of the biggest musical acts in the world, and their consistent work over the intervening years has kept their reputation intact.
However, the Rolling Stones are still capable of springing a surprise or two on fans, after delighting concertgoers at the New Orleans Jazz Festival on Thursday evening by performing their cover of Time Is On My Side for the first time since 1998.
The 1963 song was first recorded by soul songstress Irma Thomas, who inspired the group to cover it and make it their own.
So, naturally, the Stones invited Thomas, 83, onstage this week to celebrate 60 years since they released their version of the track.
It was also only the second time they’d performed it since 1982.
According to , 80-year-old Sir Mick told the crowd: ‘In 1964, which is a very long time ago, we heard this great song on the radio by this amazing singer. We recorded it and it became our first kind of hit in America.
‘The lady that did the song first, she’s the Soul Queen of New Orleans! I’d like to bring out on stage now to sing the song with us, here she is, Miss Irma Thomas!’
Dressed in an off-the-shoulder black, blue and green patterned ensemble, Irma duetted with the British star, who sported a red sparkly jacket, with the pair beaming as they sung together, holding hands at one point.
The band, who performed Time Is On My Side on The Ed Sullivan Show in the US in October 1964, also welcomed singer Chanel Haynes to the stage during their set to perform Gimme Shelter, an honour she’s had before, filling in for original vocalist Merry Clayton.
Grammy-nominated singer Lisa Fischer had previously performed with the Stones as backup singer for 26 years, before leaving in 2015 to focus on her own career.
Four years after the Stones were forced to postpone making their debut at the festival after Sir Mick needed to undergo heart surgery, they returned without drummer Charlie Watts, .
However, Sir Mick was joined by , as well as musician and guitarist Ronnie Wood, who has officially been a member of the Stones since 1976 after first finding fame with Faces alongside Sir Rod Stewart.
The Rolling Stones released in October, which became their 14th to top the UK album chart and was their first collection of original music since 2005’s A Bigger Bang.
Madonna’s on Saturday night has also shone a spotlight on the Sones’ similar offering at Copacabana beach back in 2006, which attracted roughly 1,500,000 fans to Madge’s estimated 1,600,000.
However, both pale in comparison to Sir Rod’s New Year’s Eve bash there in 1994, which reportedly attracted a massive 4,200,000 revellers.
