Rolling Stones’ 2006 Shanghai Show: Censored Setlist for First Mainland China Concert

The most interesting thing about the Rolling Stones’ first concert in mainland China isn’t the milestone itself—it’s what the Chinese government made them leave out. When the band played Shanghai’s Grand Stage on April 8, 2006, as part of the A Bigger Bang tour, authorities banned a handful of songs deemed too racy or politically sensitive. “Brown Sugar” and “Honky Tonk Women” were out because their lyrics reference sex, drugs, and slavery. Also nixed: “Miss You” (sexual innuendo) and “Let’s Spend the Night Together” (obvious reasons). The Stones complied, swapping in safer numbers like “Wild Horses” and “Beast of Burden.”

The show itself was a slick, 15-song set that stuck mostly to hits—no deep cuts, no controversy. Mick Jagger even shouted “Shanghai!” in Chinese and told the crowd “It’s good to be here,” but the setlist felt like a neutered jukebox. Interestingly, the Chinese government didn’t require pre-approval of every song; they simply informed the band which tracks were unacceptable. The Stones, eager to crack the Chinese market (and already facing a ban from performing in Hong Kong’s newly built arena due to noise complaints), played ball.

Still, the concert was a cultural landmark. It sold out 8,000 seats in minutes, and the band reportedly pocketed $5 million from the gig. The censorship was no secret—local media even mentioned the banned songs in pre-show coverage. For a