ROLLINGSTO

NES

Co

nt

en

ts FOREWORD PAGE 4

PREFACE PAGE 8

INTRODUCTION PAGE 10

THE SIXTIES – OFF THE HOOK PAGE 46

THE SEVENTIES – STAR STAR PAGE 98

THE EIGHTIES – WINNING UGLY PAGE 150

THE NINETIES – SPARKS WILL FLY PAGE 202

A NEW CENTURY – OH NO, NOT YOU AGAIN PAGE 244

50 yearsof rock

5

Somewhere along the way someone – a publicist, a record company promo person, a crew member, a

deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones “the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band.” Fortunately for them, it was

a claim they backed up with remarkable consistency. The Rolling Stones formed in 1962, and in 1969, a

pivotal year in music history, they assumed the mantle of the premier live performance entity in rock and roll.

Their triumphant U.S. tour that year unleashed a tempest that propelled them into the Eighties. Following a

dark period, they returned to the stage in 1989 and spent the better part of the next two decades touring

the world and constantly reaffirming their place in history. Not to be forgotten is their astounding recorded

catalog. Beggar’s Banquet, Aftermath, Exile on Main Street and Some Girls are just a few examples of their

timeless work, any of which could be considered a career defining achievement on its own. The fact that

each marks a significant point along the career arc for a single act is yet another testimony to the Rolling

Stones’ greatness.

The Rolling Stones also cultivated a variety of images. They were bad boys and jet-setters, exiles and

junkies, the old guard and the team to beat. In the face of all opposition and obstacles, many of which were

self-made, the Rolling Stones always delivered. This book examines the Rolling Stones as a working group

since 1962. Its series of essays highlights key artistic events and achievements of the World’s Greatest Rock

and Roll Band, including significant singles, landmark albums and tireless touring. As they approach their

sixth decade of making music, the Rolling Stones are still the standard by which all rock and roll bands are

measured. Somewhere along the way someone – a publicist, a record company promo person, a crew

member, a deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones “the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band.” Fortunately for

them, it was a claim they backed up with remarkable consistency. Somewhere along the way someone –

a publicist, a record company promo person, a crew member, a deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones.

RRROLLING STONES 50 YEARS OF ROCK

I N T R O D U C T I O N

ROLLING STONES50 years of rock 50 years of rock 50 years of rock

TTHHEE SSIIXXTTIIEESSOFF THE HOOK

Somewhere along the way someone – a publicist, a record company promo person, a crew member,

a deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones “the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band.” Fortunately for them, it

was a claim they backed up with remarkable consistency. The Rolling Stones formed in 1962, and in

1969, a pivotal year in music history, they assumed the mantle of the premier live performance entity in

rock and roll. Their triumphant U.S. tour that year unleashed a tempest that propelled them into the Eight-

ies. Following a dark period, they returned to the stage in 1989 and spent the better part of the next two

decades touring the world and constantly reaffirming their place in history. Not to be forgotten is their as-

tounding recorded catalog. Beggar’s Banquet, Aftermath, Exile on Main Street and Some Girls are just a

few examples of their timeless work, any of which could be considered a career defining achievement on

its own. The fact that each marks a significant point along the career arc for a single act is yet another

testimony to the Rolling Stones’ greatness.

The Rolling Stones also cultivated a variety of images. They were bad boys and jet-setters, exiles and

junkies, the old guard and the team to beat. In the face of all opposition and obstacles, many of which

were self-made, the Rolling Stones always delivered. This book examines the Rolling Stones as a work-

ing group since 1962. Its series of essays highlights key artistic events and achievements of the World’s

Greatest Rock and Roll Band, including significant singles, landmark albums and tireless touring. As they

approach their sixth decade of making music, the Rolling Stones are still the standard by which all rock

and roll bands are measured.

Somewhere along the way someone – a publicist, a record company promo person, a crew member,

a deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones “the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band.” Fortunately for them, it

was a claim they backed up with remarkable consistency.

TTTHE WORLD’S GREATEST ROCK AND ROLL BAND

5

76

6 Somewhere along the way some-

one – a publicist, a record company

promo person, a crew member, a

deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones

“the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll

Band.” Fortunately for them, it was a

claim they backed up with remark-

able consistency.

6 Somewhere along the way some-

one – a publicist, a record company

promo person, a crew member, a

deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones

“the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll

Band.” Fortunately for them, it was

a claim they backed up with remark-

able consistency.

1964

98

6 Somewhere along the way some-

one – a publicist, a record company

promo person, a crew member, a

deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones

“the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll

Band.” Fortunately for them, it was

a claim they backed up with remark-

1963

RO

LL

ING

ST

ON

ES

50

yea

rs o

f ro

ck

6 Somewhere along the way some-

one – a publicist, a record company

promo person, a crew member, a

deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones

“the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll

Band.” Fortunately for them, it was

a claim they backed up with remark-

able consistency.

RO

LL

ING

ST

ON

ES

50

yea

rs o

f ro

ck

6 Somewhere along the way some-

one – a publicist, a record company

promo person, a crew member, a

deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones

“the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll

Band.” Fortunately for them, it was

a claim they backed up with remark-

able consistency.

1969

ROLLING STONES

50 years of rock 50 years of rock 50 years of rock

THE SEVENTIESSTAR STAR

Somewhere along the way someone – a publicist, a record company promo person, a crew member,

a deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones “the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band.” Fortunately for them, it

was a claim they backed up with remarkable consistency. The Rolling Stones formed in 1962, and in

1969, a pivotal year in music history, they assumed the mantle of the premier live performance entity in

rock and roll. Their triumphant U.S. tour that year unleashed a tempest that propelled them into the Eight-

ies. Following a dark period, they returned to the stage in 1989 and spent the better part of the next two

decades touring the world and constantly reaffirming their place in history. Not to be forgotten is their as-

tounding recorded catalog. Beggar’s Banquet, Aftermath, Exile on Main Street and Some Girls are just a

few examples of their timeless work, any of which could be considered a career defining achievement on

its own. The fact that each marks a significant point along the career arc for a single act is yet another

testimony to the Rolling Stones’ greatness.

The Rolling Stones also cultivated a variety of images. They were bad boys and jet-setters, exiles and

junkies, the old guard and the team to beat. In the face of all opposition and obstacles, many of which

were self-made, the Rolling Stones always delivered. This book examines the Rolling Stones as a work-

ing group since 1962. Its series of essays highlights key artistic events and achievements of the World’s

Greatest Rock and Roll Band, including significant singles, landmark albums and tireless touring. As they

approach their sixth decade of making music, the Rolling Stones are still the standard by which all rock

and roll bands are measured.

Somewhere along the way someone – a publicist, a record company promo person, a crew member,

a deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones “the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band.” Fortunately for them, it

was a claim they backed up with remarkable consistency.

SSSTONES ALSO CULTIVATED A VARIETY OF IMAGES

5

76

RO

LL

ING

ST

ON

ES

50

yea

rs o

f ro

ck

6 Somewhere along the way some-

one – a publicist, a record company

promo person, a crew member, a

deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones

“the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll

Band.” Fortunately for them, it was

a claim they backed up with remark-

able consistency.

1970

8

6 Somewhere along the way some-

one – a publicist, a record company

promo person, a crew member, a

deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones

“the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll

Band.” Fortunately for them, it was a

claim they backed up with remark-

able consistency.

6 Somewhere along the way some-

one – a publicist, a record company

promo person, a crew member, a

deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones

“the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll

Band.” Fortunately for them, it was

a claim they backed up with remark-

able consistency.

1975

6 Somewhere along the way some-

one – a publicist, a record company

promo person, a crew member, a

deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones

“the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll

Band.” Fortunately for them, it was

a claim they backed up with remark-

able consistency.

RO

LL

ING

ST

ON

ES

50

yea

rs o

f ro

ck

RO

LL

ING

ST

ON

ES

50

yea

rs o

f ro

ck

6 Somewhere along the way some-

one – a publicist, a record company

promo person, a crew member, a

deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones

“the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll

Band.” Fortunately for them, it was

a claim they backed up with re-

markable consistency.

6 Somewhere along the way some-

one – a publicist, a record company

promo person, a crew member, a

deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones

“the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll

Band.” Fortunately for them.

6 Somewhere along the way some-

one – a publicist, a record company

promo person, a crew member, a

deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones

the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll.

ROLLING STONES50 years of rock 50 years of rock 50 years of rock

A NEW CENTURY OH NO, NOT YOU AGAIN

Somewhere along the way someone – a publicist, a record company promo person, a crew member,

a deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones “the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band.” Fortunately for them, it

was a claim they backed up with remarkable consistency. The Rolling Stones formed in 1962, and in

1969, a pivotal year in music history, they assumed the mantle of the premier live performance entity in

rock and roll. Their triumphant U.S. tour that year unleashed a tempest that propelled them into the Eight-

ies. Following a dark period, they returned to the stage in 1989 and spent the better part of the next two

decades touring the world and constantly reaffirming their place in history. Not to be forgotten is their as-

tounding recorded catalog. Beggar’s Banquet, Aftermath, Exile on Main Street and Some Girls are just a

few examples of their timeless work, any of which could be considered a career defining achievement on

its own. The fact that each marks a significant point along the career arc for a single act is yet another

testimony to the Rolling Stones’ greatness.

The Rolling Stones also cultivated a variety of images. They were bad boys and jet-setters, exiles and

junkies, the old guard and the team to beat. In the face of all opposition and obstacles, many of which

were self-made, the Rolling Stones always delivered. This book examines the Rolling Stones as a work-

ing group since 1962. Its series of essays highlights key artistic events and achievements of the World’s

Greatest Rock and Roll Band, including significant singles, landmark albums and tireless touring. As they

approach their sixth decade of making music, the Rolling Stones are still the standard by which all rock

and roll bands are measured.

Somewhere along the way someone – a publicist, a record company promo person, a crew member,

a deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones “the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band.” Fortunately for them, it

was a claim they backed up with remarkable consistency.

SSSTONES ALSO CULTIVATED A VARIETY OF IMAGES

5

7

6 Somewhere along the way some-

one – a publicist, a record company

promo person, a crew member, a

deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones

“the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll

Band.” Fortunately for them, it was

a claim they backed up with remark-

able consistency.

6 Somewhere along the way some-

one – a publicist, a record company

promo person, a crew member.

8

RO

LL

ING

ST

ON

ES

50

yea

rs o

f ro

ck

6 Somewhere along the way some-

one – a publicist, a record company

promo person, a crew member, a

deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones

“the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll

Band.” Fortunately for them, it was

a claim they backed up with remark-

able consistency.

11

RO

LL

ING

ST

ON

ES

50

yea

rs o

f ro

ck

6 Somewhere along the way some-

one – a publicist, a record company

promo person, a crew member, a

deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones

“the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll

Band.” Fortunately for them, it was

a claim they backed up with remark-

able consistency.

13

RO

LL

ING

ST

ON

ES

50

yea

rs o

f ro

ck

6 Somewhere along the way some-

one – a publicist, a record company

promo person, a crew member, a

deejay – labeled the Rolling Stones

“the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll

Band.” Fortunately for them, it was

a claim they backed up with remark-

able consistency.