MADRID: The Rolling Stones rocked Madrid on Wednesday (June 1) with a concert that kicked off their European tour titled SIXTY and marked their 60th anniversary as a band.

Some 53,000 fans at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium roared with excitement as they welcomed to the stage the original band members Mick Jagger, 78, and guitarists Keith Richards, 78, and Ronnie Wood, who turned 75 on Wednesday.

They have been joined by drummer Steve Jordan for the tour after rock-n-roll legend Charlie Watts, who joined the band in 1963, died last year aged 80.

Right before the first song, videos of Watts were displayed on big screens on the stage and the band gave an emotional tribute to their late friend.

After 17 songs The Rolling Stones left the stage just to return in response to a big round of applause from the Madrid crowd.

The band played “Gimme shelter” as the Ukrainian flag and footage of destroyed Ukrainian cities were displayed on the monitors as a statement against war. The band closed the concert with "(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction".

After a 2 hours show, giddy fans clad in Rolling Stones t-shirts and draped in flags with the trademark lips and tongue logo left the venue chanting “Satisfaction”.

Their faithful fans celebrated that the band want to keep performing as long as they possibly can.

“We said that on 2012 on their 50th. On their 50th (tour) in 2012 we said this might be the last we’ve seen them and we have seen them around Europe many times since then and in England,” said 60-year-old Paul a fan who came from England for the gig.

The setlist includes Stones 1960s classics such as "(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction" and "Paint It Black", among others, as well as some of the more recent tracks from their vast catalog of music.

The Stones, who wrapped up the North American leg of their "No Filter" tour in November, will next play in Munich on Sunday and also perform in Amsterdam, Bern, Milan, Brussels, Vienna, Paris and Stockholm.