ROLLING STONES - THE ROLLING STONES TO OPEN NEW WEMBLEY STADIUM

Veteran British rockers THE ROLLING STONES will be the first entertainers to play London's new $1,425 million ($750 million) Wembley Stadium.

The GIMME SHELTER band will make history when they open the new venue by playing three nights in June 2006 as part of their final world tour.

The Stones - SIR MICK JAGGER, KEITH RICHARDS, RONNIE WOOD and CHARLIE WATTS - plan to kick off their farewell road-trip with the historic Wembley Stadium dates.

A stadium source says, "Wembley are absolutely chuffed to have landed the Stones as the opening act for the new venue.

"They are the most famous band in the world, so it makes perfect sense for them to re-launch the world's most famous stadium."

The Stones played the former Wembley Stadium, which was demolished in 2002 to make way for the new construction, on numerous occasions.