Satisfaction for Rolling Stones fan as band appear at London exhibition

A lifelong Rolling Stones fan got more satisfaction than expected when he was surprised by the rockers at an exhibition about the band.

Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts met tourist Alex Emanuel as he was visiting Exhibitionism at the Saatchi Gallery in London.

Mr Emanuel, who was visiting from New York, exchanged handshakes and hand slaps with the band after he received a tap on the arm in the show's Recording Gallery.

Afterwards, he said: "It's going to sound silly but for a moment I thought I was a member of the Rolling Stones. It's not every day you get to meet your idols."

He added: "I said to Keith, 'I'm a bass player - let's jam?' And Keith said in his rasping voice, 'Well all right, let's jam'. I really think Keith was ready to play!"

The committed fan, who was taken on trip to the capital by visitlondon.com, visited other Rolling Stones landmarks during his visit, including Edith Grove, Chelsea where the band lived together, Regents Sounds in Denmark Street where they cut their first albums, the 100 Club where they played an impromptu gig in 1982 and Olympic Studios where Sympathy For The Devil was recorded.

Mr Emanuel said: "Liverpool has The Beatles, Memphis has Elvis, The Rolling Stones are London.

"The Stones have been with me all my life so to visit Exhibitionism in London was fantastic. The show has given me a unique glimpse of the city through the eyes of The Rolling Stones."

Exhibitionism includes original stage costumes, rare instruments and lyric books, backstage and touring paraphernalia, album art, photography, stage designs, personal diaries and never before released audio and behind-the-scenes footage.

It is open until September 4.