Paris, July 09: Organisers of the French leg of the Rolling Stones world tour had to call in volunteers and police Tuesday to ensure a major Paris concert would go ahead despite disruption by striking arts industry workers.
The legendary band, in France this week as part of their "40 licks" world tour, have been hit by the spillover from strikes and protests by arts industry workers that are threatening the entire summer culture calendar.
In the latest incident, police were called in to remove 50 to 100 protesters who were blocking access to the Stade De France Football Stadium where the group is to play to a crowd of 60,000 tonight.
The protesters had staged a sit-in outside the venue to block access to a dozen trucks carrying sound and lighting equipment for the concert.
The Rolling Stones kicked off the first of three concerts in the capital Monday, before an audience of 15,000.
But roadies responsible for loading and unloading stage, lighting and sound equipment stopped work after the show in solidarity with arts sector strikers, who are protesting government plans to overhaul their benefits.
"We decided, in majority, after the Rolling Stones concert, not to dismantle the equipment," the roadies said in a statement. "There are 22 semitrailers due at the Stade De France, they are unlikely to get there."
But witnesses said that after the police action all the trucks had arrived on site.
Jackie Lombard, who is in charge of the Stones' French tour, said that tonight's show "will go ahead
whatever" happens.
