Rolling Stones return to Cardiff 55 years after Wales debut

The band is playing at the Principality Stadium

The Rolling Stones return to Cardiff on Friday, 55 years after their first gig in Wales, and first in line is a man who has travelled from America.

John Tillman, 59, has a 7,000 mile (11,400 km) round trip from Elma, Washington to see his favourite band at the Principality Stadium.

"I'm going to Cardiff, Twickenham and Berlin," said Mr Tillman, who has seen the Stones more than 20 times.

The Stones supported Everly Brothers on their first Cardiff visit in 1963.

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and co had a 10-minute slot opening that concert, which also included Little Richard and Bo Diddley, at the Capitol Theatre on 6 October.

John Tillman has travelled from United States capital Washington DC to see the Stones in Cardiff

He will be joined by self-confessed "rock chick" Julie Evans-Griffiths as the 59-year-old "wouldn't miss" her ninth Stones gig as she fears it could be her last chance.

"It could be the final time they tour," she said "but then I said that the last five times I've seen them!"

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Ms Evans-Griffiths' Stones love affair began when she saw them for the first time at Knebworth in 1976 and she has travelled around the world watching her favourite band.

The mother-of-one has seen them in Paris, Amsterdam and Bristol - but one unforgettable experience happened in New York.

Julie Evans-Griffiths has been to eight Stones gigs since her first in 1976 and loves the song Gimme Shelter

"I bought tickets to one of their legendary concerts in Madison Square Gardens about 15-20 years ago now," said Ms Evans-Griffiths, from Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taff.

"I was so excited, I got properly dressed up and couldn't wait - they are one of the best live bands ever.

"I turned up to the gig, handed my tickets to the security man and I had the shock of my life when he ripped up the tickets up in front of my face.

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"He said 'I'm sorry, they're fakes ma'am' and I just burst out crying. I was so looking forward to it."

Ms Evans-Griffiths will be hoping to get some satisfaction on Friday when her and 13 friends head to Cardiff in a mini-bus in an early 60th birthday celebration.

"I've seen them in Cardiff in 1990 at the old Arms Park and 2006 at the Millennium - it's like Christmas Eve for me, I can't wait and we're going to make a day of it."

The Stones' first gig in Cardiff for 16 years was in front of a 49,000 crowd at the Millennium Stadium in 2006

The Rolling Stones played at the old Cardiff Arms Park during their Urban Jungle Tour of 1990

The Stones played eight gigs at Cardiff's Capitol Theatre between 1963 and 1968 and at Sophia Gardens in 1964

What you need to know

It is the Stones' eighth visit to Cardiff and first since their Bigger Bang tour of 2006.

Elbow started the concert at 18:50 BST before the Stones started their greatest hits set at 20:20.

Road closures began as early as 07:00, the Principality Stadium gates opened at 17:00 and roads in the centre closed from 17:30.

Security to the concert is tight - only bags A5-size or smaller are allowed in the stadium while laptops and umbrellas are banned.

The Stones are due to finish at 22:30 while roads in central Cardiff will reopen at 23:30.

Cardiff buses are being diverted out of city centre bus stops while Arriva Trains Wales has warned passengers train services in the Cardiff area will be busy all day and "extra capacity will be added where possible".