On this past week's Mad Men, I liked that the teenage girl Don chatted up backstage at the Stones show was in love with Brian Jones. It's largely forgotten now, but Jones was as big a star as Mick or Keith in the mid 60s (probably bigger than Keith at the time, actually).
It's tough to gauge, but it was his band, initially, and his hair and look were really influential. Look at how many post-British Invasion American rock'n'rollers aped his look (e.g. Michael Clarke of the Byrds). He just never could write a song, so Mick & Keith slowly took over. That said, what would those cool hits of '66-'68 be without those idiosyncratic additions of Jones' - like the dulcimer on Lady Jane, the marimbas on Under My Thumb, et al.
[3] And first ever use of a sitar in a rock 'n' roll song. "Paint It Black".
I will contend that Jones was a musical genius...he could play 6 or 7 instruments. And he certainly fueled the early days of the Stones. But he was hugely unpopular among the other members and had some serious social problems (domestic violence, for one), even for that band. I think it's stretch to say it was ever "his band."
After trying psychedelics he was simply was unable to function.
Only the Stones could've made hits out of arguably the most chauvinistic pop song ever written, "Under My Thumb" and an anthem of feminism and female independence, "Ruby Tuesday."
[5] It was his band in that he started it, so no stretch needed. He was the leader of the band when it began. Andrew Oldham was also responsible in the shift from Jones to Jagger/Richards. And yeah, Jones was (or became) a real creep. Keith stole his girl (Anita Pallenberg), but given that Brian beat her up, good on Keith. [6] Interesting - could it be that's due to Mick writing the former and Keith writing the latter?
On this past week's Mad Men, I liked that the teenage girl Don chatted up backstage at the Stones show was in love with Brian Jones. It's largely forgotten now, but Jones was as big a star as Mick or Keith in the mid 60s (probably bigger than Keith at the time, actually).
1) Matt was he ever bigger than Mick?
It's tough to gauge, but it was his band, initially, and his hair and look were really influential. Look at how many post-British Invasion American rock'n'rollers aped his look (e.g. Michael Clarke of the Byrds). He just never could write a song, so Mick & Keith slowly took over. That said, what would those cool hits of '66-'68 be without those idiosyncratic additions of Jones' - like the dulcimer on Lady Jane, the marimbas on Under My Thumb, et al.
So great that you picked out UNDER MY THUMB. I was humming that just the other day.
[3] And first ever use of a sitar in a rock 'n' roll song. "Paint It Black".
I will contend that Jones was a musical genius...he could play 6 or 7 instruments. And he certainly fueled the early days of the Stones. But he was hugely unpopular among the other members and had some serious social problems (domestic violence, for one), even for that band. I think it's stretch to say it was ever "his band."
After trying psychedelics he was simply was unable to function.
Only the Stones could've made hits out of arguably the most chauvinistic pop song ever written, "Under My Thumb" and an anthem of feminism and female independence, "Ruby Tuesday."
BTW, Matt B, thanks. That footage is fantastic.
Have you guys seen the "new" Some Girls movie? It is fan-fucking-tastic.
[5] It was his band in that he started it, so no stretch needed. He was the leader of the band when it began. Andrew Oldham was also responsible in the shift from Jones to Jagger/Richards. And yeah, Jones was (or became) a real creep. Keith stole his girl (Anita Pallenberg), but given that Brian beat her up, good on Keith.
[6] Interesting - could it be that's due to Mick writing the former and Keith writing the latter?
[7] Yeah, that is hot stuff. I had an audio bootleg of that show for years - fun to see it now.