The Rolling Stones and their fans in Cuba finally spent the night together as the band performed a historic free concert in Havana.

The band opened the show with Jumpin’ Jack Flash and lead singer Sir Mick Jagger addressed the crowd in Spanish saying: “Hola Habana, buenas noches mi gente de Cuba” – which translates as “Hello Havana, goodnight my people of Cuba”, state media reported.

Keith Richards plays his guitar as the Rolling Stones perform in Havana, Cuba
The band on stage in Havana (Enric Marta/AP)

He continued: “Here we are finally! We are sure that this night is going to be an unforgettable night, for you and for us.”

He added: “We know that years ago it was difficult to listen to our music here in Cuba, but here we are, playing for you in your beautiful land. I think that finally things have changed, haven’t they?”

Thousands gather at the Ciudad Deportiva as the Rolling Stones perform in Havana, Cuba
Hundreds of thousands of people watched them perform (Ramon Espinosa/AP)

The show went ahead despite reports that the Pope had tried to halt the Good Friday concert.

A tour insider told the Mirror: “The band’s team were flabbergasted when the Vatican got in touch by letter – couldn’t believe their eyes.

“Much as they didn’t want to upset the Pope, they had a contract to play and were going to honour it.

“They have made a promise to the Cuban people and won’t let them down.”

Mick Jagger sings during a Rolling Stones concert in Havana, Cuba
Mick Jagger on stage (Enric Marta/AP)

Another source told the newspaper the Stones replied to the Vatican, saying other global music events were being held on Good Friday.

After the concert, the band posted the set list on their official Twitter page, revealing the hits they performed for the crowd.

The band’s music was banned in Cuba for many years because it was considered subversive and blocked from the radio.

Cubans listened to their music in secret, passing records from hand to hand and the band built up a huge fan base on the isolated island.

Hundreds of thousands of those fans poured into the Ciudad Deportiva stadium to watch the veteran rockers and in a post on their website after the show they said the audience was “probably their biggest ever crowd”.

Keith Richards plays his guitar as the Rolling Stones perform in Havana, Cuba,
Keith Richards on stage (Enric Marta/AP)

Sir Richard Branson told his Twitter followers he would be supporting the band at their landmark show.

Their concert is the second landmark event in the country this week, after the visit by American president Barack Obama – the first US leader to visit the country since the 1959 revolution.

The Rolling Stones have been touring Latin America with concerts in Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Brazil.