Sir Mick Jagger was disappointed not to play in Hong Kong and China

The band have arrived in India to play dates in Bangalore and Bombay after their Hong Kong and China concerts were cancelled because of the deadly Sars virus.

Sir Mick said: "To tell you the truth, India has never been on the regular tour map.

"It's been quite difficult in the past with the bureaucracy being so much worse than now," he told the Hindustan Times newspaper.

Concert promoters there have to seek permission from at least a dozen government and police departments before a licence will be granted.

Sir Mick last visited India in 1996 to watch the cricket World Cup and said he and the other band members were really keen to play to Indian audiences.

Luck

The Rolling Stones are in the middle of their 40 Licks tour, which will see them play 50 dates around the world including the US, Australia and Japan.

The schedule was disrupted following the cancellation of shows in Hong Kong and China over warnings about the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars).

The pneumonia-like illness has claimed at least 60 lives worldwide with Asia being the worst affected area.

Sir Mick said he and the band were disappointed that the concerts were cancelled.

"We were all looking forward to China and there were two shows (scheduled).

"Because of Sars the Hong Kong government announced that they did not want any big public gathering. We took a cue from this," said Sir Mick.

In an interview with the Times of India, Sir Mick put his longevity down to luck and said British pop star Robbie Williams would take over his mantle.