Rolling Stones playing small show in Paris

The Rolling Stones are to play a show at a small venue in Paris, France on Thursday to warm up for their enormous 50th anniversary gigs next month.

The legendary band will perform for just 700 fans at the Trabendo, a tiny theatre in the Parc de la Villette area of the city, according to local reports.

Tickets for the gig will be issued under strict security conditions to avoid re-selling, and all recording equipment, mobile phones, and cameras are banned from the venue.

Announcing the surprise show in a post on Twitter.com on Thursday, a spokesman for the band writes, "The Rolling Stones are playing a short warm-up gig tonight, Thursday 25th Oct, in Paris."

Fans can get tickets for the concert from the Virgin Megastore on the city's Champs-Elysees at midday local time, and must then produce photo ID at the venue, where they will be issued with a wristband.

The group is playing two huge gigs in London next month to celebrate its 50th anniversary, and will follow-up with a brace of shows in Newark, New Jersey in December.