Govinda Gallery

First of all, how hip was it for the Stones at their own expense to present a free concert for the people of Cuba in Havana?! Viva Los Rolling Stones!! It was a great concert and was among the best staging I have ever seen for a Stones show. They looked fantastic and rocked a very appreciative Cuban audience.

Here is a short video from the concert and a few photos in the crowd.

Paint it Black, Havana 2016

One of the digital visuals depicted on the stage set before the concert. © Carlotta Hester

The Stones brought all of the equipment for the concert including several of these amazing speaker towers. © Carlotta Hester

Artist and Stones fan Carlotta Hester enjoying the show © Chris Murray

Cuban fans cheering the Rolling Stones. © Carlotta Hester

Not Fade Away © Carlotta Hester

Thank you indeed! © Carlotta Hester

In 2002 Govinda Gallery presented our first exhibition in Havana at Fototeca de Cuba called La Revolucion del Rock and Roll. That exhibition featured Gered Mankowitz’s classic stage shot of the original Stones that he has long titled “Cuban Heels,” a reference to the name they called the boots Bill Wyman is wearing in the photo in 1965. The Rolling Stones have continued for over five decades since that photo of Gered’s. They truly are the greatest working rock and roll band of our time. Gered Mankowitz’s photographs are available through Govinda Gallery.

“Cuban Heels” 1965 © Gered Mankowitz

It was a great pleasure for me to edit and have published Rolling Stones 50×20 (Insight Editions), a photographic tribute to 50 years of Stones by 20 photographers.