Rolling Stones Slam Super Bowl Censorship  2/8/06

Veteran rockers The Rolling Stones have blasted the censorship of sexually suggestive lyrics during their Super Bowl half-time show on Sunday night (05FEB06) as "absolutely ridiculous" - despite claims from the National Football League the band consented to the move beforehand.

Editors turned down Sir Mick Jagger's microphone for risqué lines in hits Start Me Up and Rough Justice amid fears a repeat of Janet Jackson's infamous wardrobe malfunction at the American football event two years ago (04) would prompt another backlash from family TV audiences.

But a spokeswoman for the (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction hit makers revealed yesterday (07FEB06) that the band deemed the measure "absolutely ridiculous and completely unnecessary" and had voiced their opinions to NFL bosses before their three-song set.

She added, "The band did the songs they were supposed to do and they sang all the words.

"There were many many conversations back and forth and the band clearly was not happy about it."

On Monday (06FEB06) an NFL spokesman claimed, "We agreed upon it earlier this week. The band were fine with it."