Names and faces

LITTLE ROCK — Elton John publicly dedicated his only concert in Beijing to Chinese artist and political critic Ai Weiwei, sending a murmur of shock through an audience accustomed to tight censorship of entertainment. Minutes into a more than two-hour show Sunday night, John told the audience that the performance was dedicated “to the spirit and talent of Ai Weiwei,” according to several audience members. They said the crowd rumbled in recognition that Ai remains a touchy subject for the Chinese government. An internationally acclaimed sculptor and installation artist, Ai has used his art and his renown to draw attention to social injustice. He was detained for nearly three months last year, and he remains barred from leaving China. Ai and John met each other briefly on Sunday before the concert. The Chinese government exercises tight control of live performances, requiring artists to submit detailed lists of songs, casts and crew members before approval is given. Censors further tightened scrutiny after singer Bjork shouted “Tibet, Tibet” at the close of a song titled “Declare Independence” at a Shanghai performance in 2008.

The verdict is in: The Rolling Stones may look old, but they still sound young. That was the consensus Monday as Britain’s rock critics responded to the Stones 50thanniversary bash Sunday night, the first of five shows to commemorate their half century of rhythm and blues-tinged rock. It was the band’s first London performance in five years, and their own advancing years had led some to be skeptical that they could still perform at the highest level. They were led by the seemingly ageless Mick Jagger, whose strutting style has not been dimmed, and backed by brilliant guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood and the energetic drumming of Charlie Watts, who is now past 70 but shows no sign of slowing down. There was a stunning guest appearance by former Stone Mick Taylor, who stole the show during a searing performance of “Midnight Rambler” and a brief visit from former bassist Bill Wyman. The Daily Mail’s Jan Moir said the Stones had somehow beaten the aging process: “You might imagine that they had been worn down by life, by wives, by arthritis, by scandals old and new, by drugs, but no - they seemed indestructible.” She said their swampy, gritty sound remains unique after half a century.