British veteran rockers The Rolling Stones played a surprise gig at a small Hollywood venue on Wednesday (20 May). The famed rock band used the gig at the 1,200 seat Fonda Theater as a warm up for their 15-city tour that begins 24 May in San Diego.

Band members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts reportedly played every song from their 1971 album Sticky Fingers, which is being re-released as a tie-in to the tour.

The last-minute show was announced via Twitter and the band's website, which said only that a "Los Angeles Club Show" would be held in the 90028 zip code. Tickets, costing $5 (£3.20), went on sale Wednesday at noon and sold out quickly.

"They're the original and the best. They've never changed. They keep doing things fresh and new. And keep doing small shows like this for the fans as well as the big stadiums. It's important," said one unidentified concert goer.

"It's only rock and roll and we like it. That's it. That's the bottom line. We're older. We grew up with it. It's in our genes and it's based on blues. So you know it's fun," said Babette Ory.

After San Diego, the Zip Code tour heads east, making stops in cities including Minneapolis, Atlanta, Detroit and Buffalo.

The Rolling Stones last performed across North America for A Bigger Bang Tour between 2005 and 2007.

The band more recently toured Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand in 2014, during which time Jagger's girlfriend, fashion designer L'Wren Scott died and he was also diagnosed with a throat infection.

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