Tickets to see The Rolling Stones in Toronto on Wednesday cost £4.60

"It's not aimed, personally aimed, at President Bush," he said. "It wouldn't be called Sweet Neo Con if it was."

The singer told US TV show Extra: "It's not really aimed at anyone." On the track, he sings: "You call yourself a Christian, I call you a hypocrite."

The band kicked off their latest world tour with an intimate gig in Toronto, Canada, on Wednesday.

For just C$10 (£4.60, US$8.35) a ticket, 1,000 fans at the Phoenix Theatre saw the rock legends warm up for their A Bigger Bang stadium tour.

'Home from home'

The band will play more than 40 shows in the US and Canada in the next five months before moving on to Mexico, South America, the Far East before reaching Europe next summer.

They often rehearse and perform in Toronto, a city they describe as a "home away from home".

Wednesday's gig saw them perform new songs as well as classics including Brown Sugar, Jumpin' Jack Flash and a cover of Bob Marley's Get Up, Stand Up.

Their new album, also titled A Bigger Bang, will be released next month.

Support acts on their tour will include Joss Stone, Black Eyed Peas, Metallica, Maroon 5 and Pearl Jam.