Rolling Stones play La Défense tonight

They will be the first band to perform in the massive ultra-modern stadium which seats 40,000 and is said to be the biggest in Europe.

This coincides with a photography exhibition, Stoned in Paris, revisiting episodes including the time the Stones spent in the south of France in the 1970s when they recorded Exile on Main Street at Villa Nellcôte at Villefranche-sur-Mer (see photo).

The band, who are all now in their 70s, have been performing in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Spain, Holland, Denmark and Sweden since September with their Stones-No Filter Tour.

They will also perform on Sunday and on Wednesday next week.

The U Arena is the only venue in the world to have its seating constructed in a U shape, designed to maximise sound and visual effects.

It has been built for rugby team Racing 92 and 16 matches a year are planned.

It can be altered according to the type of event and will take a day to be transformed from concert venue to sports stadium.

Le Parisien has reported that 37,000 are expected for tonight’s concert and a massive security programme will be in operation. Neighbouring roads will be blocked off, there will be a huge police presence and more than 200 video surveillance cameras will be in use.

On show in Stoned in Paris are works of photographer Dominique Tarlé who stayed with them in 1971 at Villa Nellcôte and took intimate photographs of the group. He had intended to go for a day but stayed six months with them and witnessed a period well recorded for its wild times and drugs.

One of the guests at the La Défense concert will be Gérard Mosiniak, who has been invited by Keith Richards in honour of those days in the south of France.

Mr Mosiniak was the cook during those heady times and he will be talking to The Connexion about that period and the Paris concert for an interview in the December edition.

Rosie Bell, the ex-wife of guitarist Mick Taylor who was in the Rolling Stones from 1969-74, will also be talking to Connexion about her time at Nellcôte and her return to live in France several years later.

Stoned in Paris is at 4,Rue de Bourbon Le Château, 75006, Paris open every day 11-20.00 until October 29.