By Wonderwall.com Editors
10:00am PDT, May 7, 2024
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With some appreciation for local stars — and a jab at the state's governor — the Rolling Stones headlined the fifth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 2, making their long-awaited debut at the sprawling celebration of music, food and culture.
The Stones' previous attempts to play Jazz Fest were squelched — first by Mick Jagger's health issues, then by the Covid pandemic. But Mick, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Steve Jordan proved the third time's the charm, rocking out on the festival's main stage to a record number of fans, some of whom watched the show from screens set up on another stage for the sold out show.
The band also welcomed a pair of Louisiana guest stars — accordionist Dwayne Dopsie, seen here sitting in on "Let It Bleed," and singer Irma Thomas, who recorded "Time Is on My Side" before the Stones heard her version and covered it.
"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," Mick, 80, said, introducing Irma, 84. "The lady that did the song first — she's the Soul Queen of New Orleans," he continued as the crowd went wild. "I'd like to bring out on stage now to sing the song with us, here she is, Miss Irma Thomas!"
Mick had less kind things to say about Louisiana's new Republican governor, Jeff Landry, whose staunchly conservative policies have sparked widespread criticism in New Orleans. "We're a welcoming crowd aren't we?" Jagger asked at one point. "I hope Mr. Landry is enjoying the show. He's real inclusive, you know. He's trying to take us back to the Stone Age."
Gov. Landry clapped back at Mick on X, posting, "You can't always get what you want. The only person who might remember the Stone Age is @MickJagger. Love you, buddy, you're always welcome in Louisiana! #LoveMyCountryMusic."
Read on for more details and great photos from the Rolling Stones' historic Jazz Fest performance…
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New Orleans music icon Irma Thomas joined the Rolling Stones onstage at Jazz Fest on May 2, sitting in with the band for "Time Is On My Side."
Irma first cut the tune as a B-side to her 1964 recording of "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)," a song that's had a resurgence in recent years thanks to its appearance on "Black Mirror."
The Stones recorded "Time Is On My Side" with Mick covering Irma's vocals almost note for note. Although Irma snagged Billboard charting hits with songs like "Breakaway" and "It's Raining," her label failed to promote the track adequately and her take on "Time Is On My Side" never found fame the way the Stones' cover did.
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Ronnie Wood, pictured here during the Rolling Stones' set on May 2 in New Orleans, made a surprise appearance alongside Irma Thomas later that night at the historic traditional New Orleans jazz club Preservation Hall.
"At midnight after the show I popped to @PresHall to see the Soul Queen of New Orleans, Irma Thomas, then jumped up to play 'Time Is On My Side' with her and her amazing band!" Ronnie later captioned a video on Instagram.
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Keith Richards, Steve Jordan and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, seen here performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans on May 2, recently kicked off their 2024 tour in support of their new album, "Hackney Diamonds."
Steve Jordan took over the drum chair in the Rolling Stones when Charlie Watts' health started declining a few years ago. Charlie died at 80 on Aug. 24, 2021.
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Zydeco star Dwayne Dopsie also sat in with the Rolling Stones during their first-ever Jazz Fest performance in New Orleans on May 2.
Dwayne's father is the Louisiana music legend Rockin' Dopsie, whose appearance on Paul Simon's "Graceland" album is often credited with expanding the worldwide audience for zydeco.
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Mick Jagger — pictured here performing with special guest Irma Thomas at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 2 — didn't elaborate on his "Stone Age" comment about Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry.
The Donald Trump-backed Republican has supported some of the strictest anti-abortion measures in the country, as well as multiple bills targeting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
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Both Keith Richards and Mick Jagger are 80, though you wouldn't know it from the energy of their performance in New Orleans on May 2.
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Keith Richards and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones perform onstage at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans on May 2.
The band reportedly kicked off their set with "Start Me Up," followed by hits including "Get Off of My Cloud," "Rocks Off," "Gimme Shelter" and more.
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Mick Jagger danced, jumped and ran around the stage in classic form while performing onstage at Jazz Fest in New Orleans on May 2.
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Ronnie Wood, 76, also treated the crowd to some musical theatrics while performing with the Rolling Stones in New Orleans on May 2.
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Keith Richards — pictured here onstage with the Rolling Stones at Jazz Fest in New Orleans on May 2 — also appears in a new documentary about his ex, Anita Pallenberg.
Based on an unpublished manuscript about the late model-actress's life, "Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg" includes interviews with Keith and the former couple's adult children, Marlon and Angela Richards.
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Mick Jagger struts across the stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans on May 2.
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Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones — pictured here performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 2 — are slated to perform in 16 cities this year as part of their "Hackney Diamonds" tour, which runs through July.
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The Rolling Stones perform onstage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans on May 2, 2024.
