The Rolling Stones were initially refused permission to perform the number on The Ed Sullivan Show. Sullivan himself told Jagger, "Either the song goes or you go”. A compromise was reached to substitute the words "let’s spend some time together" in place of "let’s spend the night together"; Jagger agreed to change the lyrics but ostentatiously rolled his eyes at the TV camera while singing them. Soon after the performance, the Stones disappeared from the studio. Ed Sullivan announced that the Rolling Stones would be banned from performing on his show again. In April 2006, for their first-ever performance in China, authorities prohibited the group from performing the song due to its "suggestive lyrics”.
Ed Sullivan
