The Rolling Stones have confirmed that its "Bigger Bang" World Tour will finally reach Shanghai next month. The legendary rockers will take Shanghai's Grand Stage on April 8, 2006, and are understandably excited about the engagement. Quote the press release:

"'We are looking forward to performing in China for the first time,' said The Rolling Stones."

So excited, in fact, the band members have apparently taken to speaking in unison.

The Stones will finally appear in China three years after canceling several dates there amidst fears of severe acute respiratory syndrome, better-known as SARS. Of course, prior to those abandoned dates the Chinese government, oft-criticized for the trigger-happy approach it takes to the censorship button, had ordered the band not to perform "Brown Sugar," "Honkey Tonk Women," "Beast of Burden," and "Let's Spend the Night Together." No reason was given for the less-than-subtle direction, but it was presumably not because government officials were afraid of the tunes getting stuck in their heads for, like, days.

Tickets for the "A Bigger Bang" Word Tour stopover in Shanghai go on sale today. The tour is the most successful U.S. tour of all time, and has been drawing large crowds on its South American dates as well. Just recently, The Stones drew almost two million people to a free show in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, a remarkable number. By comparison, President Bush drew only about 50,000 people to the streets of Mar del Plata, Argentina last November. And it should be noted, unlike Mr. Bush's fans, none of the Stones' attendees burned down a local Banco Galicia.