The Rolling Stones

The British are Coming The Beatles were responsible for initiating many new ideas in rock and roll These new ideas and the Beatles’ popularity allowed the door to open for several other British groups In ‘64, out of the top 23 hits, 9 were British In ‘65, the score was 13 British, 13 American From that point on, rock and roll was no longer a distinctly American commodity. With the British influence, Mainstream rock split in two different directions. Similar to the duality that was happening between John and Paul in the Beatles. Raw, political, experimental Sentimental, looking back, pushing the musical envelope The Beatles personified the experimental side of rock Went on to influence the art rock, jazz rock, and theatrical rock to come The Rolling Stones personified the harder edge of mainstream Went on to influence the hard rock, heavy metal, death metal, punk, and harder side of rock

The Rolling Stones The Beatles were influenced by 50’s rock, the Stones were influenced by earlier groups. Took their name from a Muddy waters song Mick Jagger (Lead Singer) Grew up in a nice middle class home Did well in school Keith Richards (Lead Guitar) Did not do well in school. Got expelled from high school, ended up in art college (same year as John)

Early Days Brian Jones Blues enthusiast, played keyboards, clarinet Picked up the guitar, changed his name to “Elmo Lewis” Originally known as the “Blue Boys”, they changed their names to “Rolling Stones” and tried to get gigs at the Ealing club, a local hang out. Consisted of Jagger, Richards, “Elmo Lewis,” Ian Stewart, Dick Taylor, and Mike Avory.

Bassist Dick Taylor quit, was replaced by Bill Wyman Charlie Watts, a local jazz drummer began to play with the Stones, later became their main drummer. Andrew Oldham, an employee of Brian Epstein’s, approached the Stones and offered to be their manager. Oldham was tired of being a small piece in the growing Epstein-Beatles empire They accepted Dick Rowe, Decca Records producer, known for turning down the Beatles, signed the Stones off of George Harrison’s recommendation.

Under Decca the Stones produced their first hits Come on (Chuck Berry song) reached 23 in the charts I Wanna Be Your Man (a Lennon/McCartney song) rose to #3 In 64’ the stones started developing the counter-image to the Beatles More sexually suggestive Scruffy long hair They purposely built an image of “surliness, squalor, rebellion, and menace”

The Stones first U.S. tours Came to the U.S. In June of 64’ Largely unsuccessful Played empty stadiums, less recognition on television shows. Stopped by Chess Records Met their idols, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Willie Dixon On the second American tour Had bigger audiences Performed at Ed Sullivan The fans tore up the studio Ed said he wouldn’t have them back Jagger saw James Brown perform, and tried to imitate his moves and style into his stage performances Then: Moves Like Jagger

Satisfaction In 65’ the Stones put out their second album: 12 x 5 Time is on my side, made it to 6th cracked the top 10 for the first time Had two more in the top ten Third U.S. Tour Keith began playing a pattern on his guitar that turned into “(I can’t get no) Satisfaction” Recorded it, released it, it went to number 1. The song was controversial because of the sexually suggestive lyrics

65’ On the fourth tour, Brian Jones began dressing the ‘swinging’ London look Capes, high heels, furs. Brian and Keith began experimenting with LSD. Brian’s drug and alcohol intake became a big issue. Drank two bottles of whiskey and a handful of pills each day Had hash and grass with him at all times Became frustrated that he couldn’t write as well as the Jagger-Richards duo. Became paranoid and thought the other band members were “out to get him” Refused to enter the recording studio one time because it was “crawling with black beetles” (or beatles?)

66’ Did the single “As Tears Go By”, an attempt at McCartneys’s “Yesterday” Brian played sitar Paint it black made #1 Live performances had increasingly wild behavior and violence. Created their own label (Rolling Stones Records)

67’ The album “between the buttons” came out Ruby Tuesday Let’s spend the night together The band’s personal drug stories started to surface Drug arrests Sgt. Pepper was a big hit to the Stones’ ‘Beatles – Stones race’ They attempted to come up with a new album that was equal Brian couldn’t participate, sat amongst the guitars sleeping. When he played, he played so poorly that the other band members unplugged him. “Their Satanic Majesties request” was a gross disappointment.

Beatles vs. Stones Despite the competition, the Beatles and Stones were friends. The Beatles and the Stones went to visit the Maharishi together The Stones returned to their R & B based style, quit trying to out Beatle the Beatles.

68’ Brian was arrested on drug charges. His physical and emotional health were deteriorating rapidly The band became interested in the occult Wrote ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ The band bought out Brian for $100,000 saying it was temporary. Brian went on to drown in his pool after drinking heavily and taking several ‘downers’ His liver was twice the normal size, his heart was distended, and his organs were infused with amphetamine substances. The Stones’ public performances suffered Marianne Faithfull, Jaggers girlfriend at the time, attempted suicide because of losing a baby. Her looks, sound, and personality had changed because of all the drugs she was doing

Altamont Mid 69’ the Stones were at the peak of their career, yet flat broke. They spent it as fast as they made it They began touring The tour began having increased negative publicity. Tickets were expensive They showed up late To compete with Woodstock (earlier in 69) they set up a large free music festival. They chose the Altamont Raceway in Livermore, California. They decided that for security they would hire the various California chapters of Hell’s Angels, a motorcycle gang known for their violence and disruption of similar events. The idea was to “put the arsonist in the fire station” in hopes of avoiding violence. It didn’t work. The crowd reached 100,000. Violence broke out even before the bands began playing. Even the band members were attacked.

Altamont cont. When the stones played “Sympathy” a fight broke out right in front of the stage. Jagger pleaded with the crowd to “Cool out” The fight escalated to the point where Merideth Hunter, an 18 year old black man, was stabbed in the neck and back, then stomped in the face until he was dead. Jagger didn’t know this was going on and actually thanked the Angels for their help! The band’s image suffered tremendously because of this. They didn’t perform ‘Sympathy’ live again for seven years.

After Altamont After Altamont, violence accompanied all of the Stones’ tours. The Stones got into extreme tax troubles To escape they moved to France Released Sticky Fingers in 71’ Brown Sugar Continued to tour, had to pay the bills. Audiences would snort cocaine and throw bottles at the band Continued to get arrested for drugs, weapon possession Continued to make albums and tour into the 80’s, 90’s, and today

The Bad Boys of Rock The Stones were the first group to overtly foster a negative image. They did so through their image and music They personified it through their lifestyle Brian Jones Severe drug addiction, fathered several children, got arrested several times, dabbled in the occult, drowned. Keith Richards Started on drugs early, arrested, found guilty for having a briefcase full of LSD Eventually kicked his Heroin habit in the 80’s, relapsed, was using $4000 of heroin a month Recently had brain surgery for falling out of a tree trying to get a coconut

Bad Boys cont. Mick Jagger Arrested for drugs, released on good behavior. Hit by a chair at a concert, knocked unconscious, opened a two inch gash next to his eye. Several riots at concerts When the “love and peace” generation turned into the “drugs and violence” generation, the Stones became the figureheads.

Greetings and welcome Rolling Stones: our comrades in the desperate battle against the maniacs who hold power. The revolutionary youth of the world hears your music and is inspired to even more deadly acts….We will play your music in rock ‘n’ roll marching bands as we tear down the jails and free the prisoners, as we tear down the State schools and free the students, as we tear down the military bases and arm the poor, as we tattoo “burn, baby, burn” on the bellies of the wardens and the generals and create a new society from the ashes of our fires. (distributed at Rolling Stones concerts)

Summary Why were the Stones significant? They brought back mainstream Rock and roll, revitalizing it, giving it new life. They offered an alternative to the popular music of the times, creating the split in music that becomes ever more apparent in the music to come. Offering the seedier, darker sound and lifestyle that rock has always been associated with. Longevity and success. They could be the longest lasting rock and roll group of all time!