Siberians mistake man for Rolling Stone

SAYANOGORSK, Russia, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- A 52-year-old British man was treated like a celebrity in Siberia after he was mistaken for a member of the Rolling Stones.

Neil Smith, an engineer, went to Siberia to work as an electrical projects manager, the Mirror, a British newspaper, reported Sunday.

But when he tried to tell a local bar manager about his bar band Rocco, his interpreter mistranslated the name as Rolling Stones, taking Smith on the ride of his life.

Smith was introduced to Russian President Vladimir Putin, interviewed on television and invited to judge the Miss Siberia beauty contest before the confusion was straightened out, the newspaper report said.

When the VIP limousine arrived at this door to take him to the pageant, Smith told the Mirror he knew something was wrong but it was too late to straighten it out.