Four songs axed from Stones China concert

SHANGHAI, April 8 (UPI) -- The Rolling Stones have dropped four of their greatest hits from Saturday night's first-ever concert in Shanghai at the request of Chinese censors.

With ticket prices exorbitant by local standards, only 8,500 will be on hand to hear the bad boys of rock play 36 of their 40 Licks, the Times of London reported. By contrast, 1.2 million attended the Stones' Rio de Janeiro concert in February.

Blacklisted songs were Brown Sugar, Honky Tonk Woman, Beast of Burden and Let's Spend the Night Together from the 2002 album. All four are banned in China, apparently owing to their suggestive lyrics.

"We didn't expect to come to China and not be censored," Sir Mick Jagger said. "Fortunately, we have 400 more songs that we can play so it's not really an issue.

It has taken more than 30 years for the Stones to appear in China. Negotiations for a concert in the 1970s broke down while an outbreak of Sars forced cancellation of a gig in 2003.