The Rolling Stones - 1969 to 1974

Two days after the death of Brian Jones, The Rolling Stones were planned to play a free concert in Hyde Park, London. They did the gig as a tribute to Jones and the first ever concert with Mick Taylor happened in front of around 250 thousand fans. All was filmed by a production team of Granada Television and was shown on TV as Stones in the Park. This show featured the debut of "Honky Tonk Women", recently released by the band. Stage Manager Sam Cutler introduced the Rolling Stones then as "the greatest rock & roll band in the world" and this label kept getting repeated in the entire 1969 tour and is even used today.

In December of the same year the band released "Let it Bleed", which reached number 1 in the UK and 3 in US. This was the last album of the sixties and featured tracks like "Midnight Rambler" and "Gimme Shelter". After the tour was over the band staged the Altamont Free Concert where the biker gang Hells Angels were used as security. The problem then was that a fan, Meredith Hunter, was stabbed and beaten to death by the Angels and the band was considered responsible although video footage released proved that Mick Jagger and the rest of the band tried to stop everything. In 1970 the next album, "Get Yer Ya-Yas Out!" was released and reached number 6 in US and 1 in UK. Critic Lester Bangs declared that album to be the best live album ever.

1970 saw the contracts with Decca Records and Allen Klein come to an end and the result was the band forming their own record company called Rolling Stones Records. March 1971 saw the release of "Sticky Fingers", an album that reached number one both in UK and US and marked the first ever album by the band under their own label. The album was highly successful and features two of the most well known tracks by The Rolling Stones: "Wild Horses" and "Brown Sugar". This album marked the band's entrance into a more blues influenced style and was actually the first band that featured a full release of Mick Taylor with the band.

After the album was released the Rolling Stones moved to the South of France at the advice of financial advisors. They used the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio in order to hold recording sessions in the basement of the Villa Nellcote, rented by Keith Richards. Everything was completed later on and combined with previous unrecorded tracks the result was "Exile on Main St.", released in May of 1972, an album that also reached number one in both US and UK. Critic Robert Christgau gave the album an A+ rating and at the moment "Exile on Main St." is considered to be one of the best ever albums by the Stones.

November 1972 saw the start for the recordings of the follow up album, "Goats Head Soup", another number one hit in US and UK, which was released in 1973. The album features worldwide hit "Angie" and "Waiting for a Friend", although the second one was only released later on, on the album "Tattoo You", eight years later. While making the record another legal battle started, one linked with drugs and dating to the band's stay in France. Jagger was convicted on drug charges in 1967 and 1970 and this made it hard for the band to fulfill their plans for the Pacific Tour in the early 1973 period. They were not allowed to play in Japan and were almost banned in Australia. The result was a European tour that avoided France in the months of September and October of 1973.

The following album was recorded in Musicland studios in Germany and was called "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll", an album that reached number 2 in UK and 1 in US. The album was not produced by Jimmy Miller due to drug abuse problems so the album was produced by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. Near the end of 1974 the band was facing difficult times as band members lived in various countries and there were some legal problems that made it hard to choose the tour locations. At the moment, Keith Richards did do drug abuse and this was affecting both productivity and creativity. Mick Taylor had some problems because he thought some of his contributions were not recognized and at the end of 1974 Taylor left the Rolling Stones. He stated in 1980:

"I was getting a bit fed up. I wanted to broaden my scope as a guitarist and do something else... I wasn't really composing songs or writing at that time. I was just beginning to write, and that influenced my decision... There are some people who can just ride along from crest to crest; they can ride along somebody else's success. And there are some people for whom that's not enough. It really wasn't enough for me."

The Rolling Stones - I Can't Get No Satisfaction

Released in 1965 on the “Out of Our Heads” album, “I can’t get No satisfaction” is a product of Keith Richards’ dreams while staying at the Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater, Florida. He woke up with the guitar riff and the name of the song on his mind, he recorded them and then went back to sleep – it seems that besides the riff and the lyric, on the tape there was recorded also his snoring.

Richards was worried that the song resembled Martha and The Vandellas “Dancing in the street” and that the band could be sued. Fortunately this didn’t happen and the song became one of the most famous of all times, ranked for several times #1.

The Stones wanted to release the song first in the US and then, after 3 months in the UK only they could be there to support it. They left their British fans to grow on them more and more in that time so that when they come in the UK, they would receive it strongly.

Richards (1992): "It was the first (fuzztone box) Gibson made. I was screaming for more distortion: This riff's really gotta hang hard and long, and we burnt the amps up and turned the s--t up, and it still wasn't right. And then Ian Stewart went around the corner to Eli Wallach's Music City or something and came around with a distortion box. Try this. It was as off-hand as that. It was just from nowhere. I never got into the thing after that, either. It had a very limited use, but it was just the right time for that song."

Mick Jagger (1995): "People get very blase about their big hit. It was the song that really made the Rolling Stones, changed us from just another band into a huge, monster band. You always need one song. We weren't American, and America was a big thing and we always wanted to make it here. It was very impressive the way that song and the popularity of the band became a worldwide thing. It's a signature tune, really, rather than a great, classic painting, 'cause it's only like one thing - a kind of signature that everyone knows. It has a very catchy title. It has a very catchy guitar riff. It has a great guitar sound, which was original at that time. And it captures a spirit of the times, which is very important in those kinds of songs... Which was alienation. Or it's a bit more than that, maybe, but a kind of sexual alienation. Alienation's not quite the right word, but it's one word that would do."

Anybody Seen My Baby?

"Anybody Seen My Baby?" is one of the songs on the Bridges to Babylon album by the Rolling Stones, one of most famous Rock bands of all times. It was evolved in copyright scandal because of its similarity to Lang’s hit "Constant Craving" forcing Jagger and Richards to give him credit for the song. This seemed at the time the easiest way out of a lawsuit.

The stones used different musical influences to create this “Bridges to Babylon” song, such as hip-hop from Biz Markie. The band didn’t really cared for sampling so they didn’t do it a lot; actually “Anybody Seen My Baby” is one of few such song and the album that included it is the one of this kind. You can feel some R&B in the song made by Muhoberac’s bass but still remains a rock song - the electric guitars performed by Jagger, Richards and Wachtel are a statement cu that fact!

“Anybody Seen My Baby?" took a world tour in 2007 being sung by millions of people that considered it worthy to be #3 in European charts on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks. America was of course dazzled with it! If you already didn’t know, the character in the video is played by Angelina Jolie! She was supposed to be a stripper that leaves mid-performance to wander around in New York.

"Anybody Seen My Baby?" is the only song from the Babylonian album to get a place on the Rolling Stones’ 2002 career retrospective - Forty Liks. It is another statement of the Stones greatness to concur the world with their tones and riffs. They really succeeded to get the world wrapped around their finger and become its musical god for more than two decades!

And just because this is one of my favorite Rolling Stones track, here is the video of it:

The Rolling Stones - Between The Buttons

Released in 1967, Between the Buttons is the fifth UK and seventh US studio album by The Rolling Stones, following the great “Aftermath” album. it was a time of need for change when the Stones created this album: they were getting rid of R&B influences and other bands were releasing competitive albums that could minimize their success. They had to come up with something to keep their fans and gather more.

The Beetles come up with the “Revolver”, The Beach Boys had their “Pet Sounds” and Bob Dylan was singing “Blonde and Blonde”. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards had to catch their fans from leaving them for other bands and also come up with something to overtake the “Aftermath”. They inspired from a British pop band “The Kinks” and so “Between the Buttons” was born. Although after some time Jagger denounced the album, critics over time still considered it a valuable album for the Stones career and also a “curio”.

Reaching the top #3 in UK, “Between the Buttons” had some different versions for UK and US, just like “Aftermath”. The album was produced by Andrew Loog Oldham and issued on Decca Records, nowadays along with the “Let’s Spend the Night Toghether” and “Ruby Tuesday”. The fans and critics took the songs on the album quite well. In the US, things were better than in the UK, “Ruby Tuesday” going to #1 and pushing the whole album as #2 – a gold position.

Regarding the instruments used to create this album, Brian Jones used exotic instruments along the guitar: harmonica, trumpet, the banjo-ukulele. Another fact about the “Between the Buttons” is that it was the last produced by Andrew Loog Oldham because of some supposed arguments he had with the band members.

Although after its release it wasn’t all that astonishing, “Between the Buttons” is looked now as very valuable to the music industry and the band’s style. In 2003, it was ranked #355 in the Rolling Stones magazine in a top 500 greatest albums of all times.

The Rolling Stones Between 1965 and 1969

The first ever composition by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards that reached number one in UK was "The Last Time", recorded in early 1965. Then came the US version of the "Out of Our Heads" LP, which contained 7 original songs including "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", which became the first ever number one hit in US. It stayed on the top spot for 4 weeks while making the Rolling Stones known across the world. After a short time the Rolling Stones released another number one, "Get Off of My Cloud".

The first ever album that was composed by Richards and Jagger was Aftermath and it appeared in the late spring of 1966, reaching number 1 in UK and 2 in US. This album also marked the change in leadership of the band from Brian Jones to the songwriting duo. The version of the LP that was launched in US also included huge song "Paint it Black", "Going Home" and "Lady Jane".

This is where problems started to appear for the Rolling Stones as Brian Jones, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger started to be attacked by authorities in linking with illegal drug use. In 1967 police raided a party that was held at Keith RIchards' house. Both Richards and Jagger were charged with drug offences. COncerning the incident Richards declared in 2003:

"When we got busted at Redlands, it suddenly made us realize that this was a whole different ball game and that was when the fun stopped. Up until then it had been as though London existed in a beautiful space where you could do anything you wanted."

The Rolling Stones continued to grow though and the next album was Between the Buttons (number 3 in UK and 2 in US). Once again we had a special US version that included two huge Rolling Stones singles in "Let's Spend the Night Together" and one of my favorites, "Ruby Tuesday". One interesting moment was when the Stones performed on The Ed Sullivan Show but were forced to change the chorus to "Let's Spend Some Time Together" because of fear of censorship. This album was the last one that saw Oldham as manager of The Stones and in his biography he stated that he left the band because of shortage of money, forcing him to give his management contract to others. Mick Jagger said in 2003 about this moment:

"The reason Andrew left was because he thought that we weren't concentrating and that we were being childish. It was not a great moment really - and I would have thought it wasn't a great moment for Andrew either. There were a lot of distractions and you always need someone to focus you at that point, that was Andrew's job."

May 1967 saw Brian Jones arrested for possession of cannabis. He got off with just a fine but he needed to seek professional help. June 27 of the same year saw Richards and Jagger convicted and then jailed. After an editorial critical on the convictions in The Times, titled "Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?", Richards got off on an appeal and Jagger had a conditional discharge. When they were released the band recorded "We love You", as a thank you addressed to the fans that have shown their loyalty during the trials.

In December of 1967 The Rolling Stones released "Their Satanic Majesties Request" (which reached number 3 in UK and 2 in US), being released shortly after The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". The album was hard to record as Jones, Richards and Jagger kept getting in and out of jail. Mick Jagger really loved the psychedelic sound of the album but few of the tracks on it have been played live. It was also the first album that was produced by the band.

The early 1968 period saw The Rolling Stones with a new manager in Allen Klein. The first months of the year were spent recording for the next album and the result was "Jumpin' Jack Flash", which was released in May 1968. This song lead to the launch of the next album, "Beggars Banquet" (which reached number 5 in US and 3 in UK). This album was a return to the blues roots of the band with the help of producer Jimmy Miller. Two songs from the album really stand out in "Street Fighting Man" and controversial "Sympathy for the Devil". Talking about the difference between the two albums, Keith Richards declared:

"There is a change between material on Satanic Majesties and Beggars Banquet. I'd grown sick to death of the whole Maharishi guru shit and the beads and bells. Who knows where these things come from, but I guess [the music] was a reaction to what we'd done in our time off and also that severe dose of reality. A spell in prison... will certainly give you room for thought... I was fucking pissed with being busted. So it was, 'Right we'll go and strip this thing down.' There's a lot of anger in the music from that period."

This time frame marked Richards starting to use open tunings, especially 5-string open-G tuning, as you can hear on popular songs like "Tumbling Dice", "Happy", "Start Me Up", "Brown Sugar" and a whole lot more.

A meeting that was held in June saw an important moment in The Rolling Stones' history. In a meeting at Jones' house with Jagger, Watts and Richards. This is when Brian Jones admitted that he will not be able to go on the road again and he was dealing with serious drug problems. He left the band and was replaced with 20 year old Mick Taylor, known as a member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. On July 3rd of 1969 Brian Jones drowned in his pool at Cotchford Farm in SUssex. This marked the end of this period of the Rolling Stones' history!

The Beginning of The Rolling Stones

The year 1951 saw Mick Jagger and Keith Richards at classmates ate Wentworth Primary School. The next year Richards attended Sidcup Art College and Jagger The London School of Economics. The two joined mutual friend Dick Taylor and formed Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys. Brian Jones and Ian Stewart were very active at the time in the London rhythm and blues scene that was fostered by Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies. Brian Jones met Mick Jagger and Keith Richards while he was playing slide guitar with Korner's Blues Inc. One interesting fact is that Korner hired Jagger from time to time and Charlie Watts on a frequent basis. The first ever rehearsal was organized by Brian Jones and saw Stewart, Richards and Jagger. Then, in 1962 we had a lineup of Jagger, Stewart, Taylor, Jones, Richards and Tony Chapman. Eventually Taylor left the group and Brian Jones was the one that gave the band the name The Rollin' Stones, which came after Muddy Waters' song "Rollin' Stone".

The first regular gig the band had was on July 12th 1962 at the Marquee club in central London. The line up at that time was Brian Jones, Richards, Mick Jagger, Tony Chapman on drums, Taylor on bass and Stewart on piano. Jones wanted that the band will mainly play Chicago blue although Richards and Jagger are responsible for bringing in the rock and roll style of Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry. December of that year meant that Bill Wyman joined the band together with Charlie Watts, which came in January.

The first manager of the Rolling Stones was Giorgio Gomelsky and he booked them to play at Crawdaddy Club and they did that for around 8 months. Their fan base became interesting and it even included the Beatles. It was the Beatles that recommended the Stones to Andrew Loog Oldham and this saw the band signing a management deal with Eric Easton. Decca Records then signed the Stones at the persuasion of George Harrison. The first EP and album, both bearing the name of the band, were composed of covers from the live repertoire of the band. We also saw the first ever Rolling Stones Top 40 single, written by Richards and Jagger and entitled "Tell Me (You're Coming Back)". This marked the beginning of the Rolling Stones as a growing band!

Ron Wood

Ron Wood (birth name Ronald David "Ronnie" Wood) was born on the 1st of June 1947 in Hillingdon, London. He is well known around the world as a rock guitarist and bassist while having been a member of The Rolling Stones, The Faces and The Jeff Beck Group. His career started in 1964 with the Birds. The late sixties saw him as a member of The Creation but he eventually joined the Jeff Beck Group as a bassist together with close friend Rod Stewart, which was a singer in the band. The band eventually slit up soon after recording Beck-Ola in 1969.

Ron Wood Before The Rolling Stones

Ron Wood eventually joined The Small Faces with Rod Stewart as a guitarist. This happened after leader Steve Marriott left the group and the name of the band was quickly changed to simply The Faces. The irony is that this band is known in the US as Rod Stewart's backup band but the truth is that they were very popular and the music they created is known today as having influenced the future punk rock movement. Several successful bands like The Jam, The Replacements, Pearl Jam, Stereophonics, Black Crowes and The New York Dolls do show influences from The Faces. The band eventually split up in 1975. During the seventies, Ron Wood also performed near Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Pete Townshend, Jim Capaldi and Ric Grech in Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert in 1973. This market the singer's comeback after he got rid of the heroin addiction that he had. The finale of the Last Waltz in 1976 also saw Wood perform near The Band, Ronnie Hawkins, Joni Mirchell, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Neil Diamond, Dr. John and several others. The seventies also marked some solo albums signed Ron Wood: "I've Got My Own Album to Do", "New Look", "Gimme Some Neck" and a collaboration with Ronnie Lane on the original soundtrack of the movie Mahoney's Last Stand.

Ron Wood with The Rolling Stones

After Mick Taylor left The Rolling Stones, Ron Wood ended up performing with them in their 1975 Tour of the Americas. He then contributed to the Black and Blue album and was eventually announced as Mick Taylor's replacement in The Rolling Stones. This led to decades in which Ron Wood played an important part of the band. Ronnie specializes in slide guitar and pedal steel guitar in The Rolling Stones while also contributing in the "Ancient form of weaving". Sometimes he even plays bass guitar and some singles like "Emotional Rescue" also feature him on bass. To make it even more special, Ron Wood was credited as a co-writer on a lot of Rolling Stones songs including "Black Limousine", "Pretty Beat Up" and "Dance".

The eighties saw Wood as a full time member of the Rolling Stones but he also continued his solo career. His album, "1234", reached number 164 on Billboard in 1981. He also collaborated with a lot of well known artists including Eric Clapton, Bo Diddley, Bob Dylan, Prince, David Bowie and Aretha Franklin. An interesting event happened at the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia where Wood played with Keith Richards and Bob Dylan. During "Blowin' in the Wind", Bod Dylan broke one guitar string and Ron Wood gave him his guitar while continuing to play an air guitar till he was brought a new one.

In 1993 Ron Wood appeared with Rod Stewart on MTV's Unplugged. The result was a hit album and after Rod Stewart's tour in 2004 the two wanted to finish the studio work on their forthcoming album that was called I'll Strut, You'll Sing. In 2001 and 2002 Ron Wood toured England and Ireland with The Ronnie Wood Band and even released a DVD of the tour entitled "Far East Man".

Solo Discography:

I've Got My Own Album to Do (1974)
Now Look (1975)
Mahoney's Last Stand (1976) with Ronnie LaneGimme Some Neck (1979)
1234 (1981)
Live at the Ritz (1988) with Bo Diddley
Slide on This (1992)
Slide on Live: Plugged in and Standing (1993)
Live and Eclectic (2000) (reissued in 2002 as Live at Electric Ladyland)
Not for Beginners (2002)
Ronnie Wood Anthology: The Essential Crossexion (2006)
The First Barbarians: Live from Kilburn (2007)

The Rolling Stones Sympathy for the Devil

Sympathy for the Devil is the name of a well known The Rolling Stones song, which appeared as the first track on the 1968 album: Beggars Banquet. The song was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, although most of it was composed by Jagger. There were early inspirations that led the Rolling Stones to a folk sound. Talking about it Jagger said in an interview in 1995:

"I think that was taken from an old idea of Baudelaire's, I think, but I could be wrong. Sometimes when I look at my Baudelaire books, I can't see it in there. But it was an idea I got from French writing. And I just took a couple of lines and expanded on it. I wrote it as sort of like a Bob Dylan song."

The truth is that the lyrics were inspired by a novel named The Master and Margarita, written by Mikhail Bulgakov. Keith Richards also suggested to Mick Jagger that they add backing percussion, thus transforming Sympathy for the Devil in a samba from a folk song.

Sympathy for the Devil is sung by Mick Jagger in the first person narrative as if he was Lucifer: "Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste;". These are the opening words of the sung and show the direct inspiration Jagger had from The Master and Margarita. The song is backed by a rock arrangement and the singer tells the exploits he had over the course of history, warning the listener: "If you meet me, have some courtesy, Have some sympathy, and some taste; Use all your well-learned politesse, Or I'll lay your soul to waste" .

The problem with Sympathy for the Devil was that religious groups started to think that the Rolling Stones were devil worshipers, together with corrupting the youth. On the other hand, you can interpret Sympathy for the Devil as the Devil being man. The song actually provides a brief history of atrocities committed by man against man. Wars of religion are mentioned, the Russian Revolution of 1917, the purported survival of Anastasia, World War 2 and more. Sympathy of the Devil is considered by most as a criticism towards human kind immorality. We can also think that the song says that it was the Devil that caused man to do all the bad deeds of the past. Sympathy for the Devil also comes with references to the deaths of Robert and John Kennedy.

There was also a Remix album of Sympathy For the Devil by The Rolling Stones, which featured:

1. "Sympathy for the Devil" - The Neptunes radio edit
2. "Sympathy for the Devil" - The Neptunes extended remix
3. "Sympathy for the Devil" - Fatboy Slim radio edit
4. "Sympathy for the Devil" - Fatboy Slim extended remix
5. "Sympathy for the Devil" - Full Phatt radio edit
6. "Sympathy for the Devil" - Full Phatt extended remix
7. "Sympathy for the Devil" - Original Rolling Stones version

Charlie Watts

Charlie Watts (full name Charles Robert "Charlie" Watts) was born on the second of June 1941 and he is currently the drummer of The Rolling Stones. He is also a very known commercial artist and jazz bandleader. When introduced in concerts by Mick Jagger you will sometimes hear the nickname "The Wembley Whammer".

The Early Life of Charlie Watts

Charlie Watts was born at the University College Hospital in London, England and was eventually raised in Islington. His father was a lorry driver and he was the only child of the family. Between the years 1952 and 1956 he attended the classes of the Tylers Croft Secondary Modern School and eventually went to Harrow Art School. The year 1960 saw Watts working in a local band until he met Alexis Korner. He then joined his band, called Blues Incorporated, which he eventually left due to a hectic schedule. Time passed and Watts found work at Chales Hobson and Grey, an advertising company. The year 1962 saw him join The Rolling Stones as drummer although he kept his day job until a long-term contract at the Crawdaddy Club (near London) was signed by The Rolling Stones. It was in January 1963 that he devoted his life to music and The Rolling Stones.

Life with The Rolling Stones

Charlie Watts is mostly known for his drumming in The Rolling Stones but his creativity was also exhibited as he contributed graphic art to some of the early albums by the band like Between the Buttons. He was also responsible for the 1975 tour announcement press conference that was held in New York City. That was when The Rolling Stones surprised everybody as they were driving and playing Brown Sugar while on the back of a truck in the middle of Manhattan traffic. What is interesting is that AC/DC copied the move and eventually U2 did the same in the nineties. Charlie Watts and Mick Jagger also designed the stages for some tours.

In several circumstances Keith Richards and Mick Jagger stated that Watts was the key member of the band and Richards even stated in an interview for Guitar Player in 2005 that the Rolling Stones would not be nor they could continue without Charlie Watts. In 1991 Bill Wyman left the band and after auditioning different bassists, it was Watts that chose the new one in Darryl Jones, previously a sideman for Sting and Miles Davis. Charlie Watts also holds a piece of the Rolling Stones corporate entities. The same thing can not be said for Ron Wood, Bill Wyman or Mick Taylor.

It is interesting that Watts is considered to be one of the most influential drummers of all time even if he does not consider himself so. Many young drummers have acknowledged the fact that Charlie Watts is a seminal influence to their own style of playing the drums. He was recognized for his skill in the July 2006 issue of Modern Drummer with inclusion into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame. Famous names are also on the list including Keith Moon, Steve Gadd and Buddy Rich.

Career Outside of The Rolling Stones

Charlie Watts was involved in different activities outside of the Rolling Stones. In 1964 he published a special cartoon tribute to Charlie Parker. The name of the cartoon was "Ode to a High Flying Bird". Also, even if he is renowned in rock music, his personal tastes turn towards jazz. In the late seventies he joined the band Rocket 88, together with Ian "Stu" Stewart. The band featured a lot of top jazz, rock and R&B musicians in UK and Charlie Watts toured the world in the 80s with a big band that had renowned members like Courtney Pine, Evan Parker and Jack Bruce. Another tribute to Charlie Parker was also organized in 1991 by Watts under the form of a jazz quintet. Eventually the Charlie Watts Quintet released Warm and Tender in 1993 and Long Ago And Far Away in 1996. These two records included a special collection of American Song Book standards and next came a collaboration with Jim Keltner on the Rolling Stones album "Bridges to Babylon". The link between Watts and Keltner eventually led to the launch of an instrumental/techno album called Charlie Watts/Jim Keltner Project. The year 2004 also saw one new record in Watts at Scott's, recorded with The Charlie Watts Tented at the famous jazz club in London, Ronnie Scott's.

Keith Richards - Main Offender

Main Offender is the name of the second solo studio album launched by Keith Richards and also his third material. It was released in 1992, between Steel Wheels and Voodoo Lounge by The Rolling Stones. For this album Richards re-united with "The X-Pensive Winos", his group of musician friends and Steve Jordan, with which he also collaborated for the Talk is Cheap album. We also see Waddy Watchel in the mixing both when it comes to producing and composing this album. Recording sessions were held in New York City and California and lasted from March to September in 1992. We also had a round of touring that was scheduled for the fall of 1992 and the early 1993 in North America. Eventually Keith Richards reunited with Mick Jagger (who was recording his own solo album, Wandering Spirit as Richards worked on Main Offender) in the middle of 1993 in order to work on The Rolling Stones' Voodoo Lounge. Mick Jagger eventually complimented Richards for his work on Main Offender. He even utilized the song "Wicked as it Seems" for inspiration for the next Rolling Stones single, named "Love is Strong".

Main Offender was released in October 1992 and received a lot of positive reviews although it did fail in matching Talk is Cheap in commercial success. It eventually sold over 200,000 copies. After Main Offender Richards returned to The Rolling Stones and there is no sign that his solo career is going to be continued in the future.

Track List for Main Offender

1. "999"
2. "Wicked As It Seems"
3. "Eileen"
4. "Words Of Wonder"
5. "Yap Yap"
6. "Bodytalks" - featuring Sarah Dash
7. "Hate It When You Leave"
8. "Runnin' Too Deep"
9. "Will But You Won't"
10. "Demon"

Keith Richards - Live at the Hollywood Palladium, December 15, 1988

Keith Richards released Live at the Hollywood Palladium in 1991 in US and 1992 in UK. It is a live album recorded on the 15th of December 1988, during the American tour, which was in support of the Talk is Cheap album. Keith Richards was supported by some friends and musicians labeled as "The X-Pensive Winos". This included Keith Richards, Steve Jordan, Charley Drayton, Waddy Wachtel, Sarah Dash and Ivan Neville. Bobby Keys also played the saxophone, him being a longtime contributer to the Rolling Stones. What is ironic is that the Hollywood Palladium, the place where the concert was recorded is the same Sunset Strip theater that saw Keith Richards being thrown off stage in 1972, when he wanted to join his idol Chuck Berry.

During the tour, Richards' set was mainly made out of material coming from his solo debut album. Ten of the 11 songs from the album were played but there were also some of the many Rolling Stones vocal highlights included. "Happy", "Too Rude" and "Connection" do appear on the official release, others do not. This includes "Before They Make Me Run" and "Little T&A", which are a part of the shows and are included in popular bootlegs like L.A. Connection. The official Live at the Hollywood Palladium album is actually called Live at the Hollywood Palladium, December 15, 1988 and does not feature the entire concert of the evening. On the other hand it features "Time is on My Side", sung by Sarah Dash. You will also find the sung "I Wanna Be Your Man", by Richards, something that is characteristic to the Rolling Stones, founded back in 1962.

It was Jane Rose, Keith Richards' tenured manager that suggested the recording and videotaping of Live at the Hollywood Palladium, December 15, 1988. The end result was an album that sold over 100 thousand copies in US and it was well received by both critics and fans of Keith Richards.

Live at the Hollywood Palladium, December 15, 1988 track list:

1. "Take It So Hard"
2. "How I Wish"
3. "I Could Have Stood You Up"
4. "Too Rude" - First covered by The Rolling Stones on the Dirty Work album in 1986
5. "Make No Mistake" featuring Sarah Dash
6. "Time Is on My Side" - an original Rolling Stones hit in US in 1964, featuring Sarah Dash
7. "Big Enough"
8. "Whip It Up"
9. "Locked Away"
10. "Struggle"
11. "Happy" - song originally appearing on the Rolling Stones album, Exile on Main St. in 1972
12. "Connection" - originally appearing on the Rolling Stones album Between the Buttons in 1967
13. "Rockawhile"

Keith Richards

Keith Richards is a personality that can not be overlooked when talking about music. He was born on the 18th of December 1943, is a producer, singer, songwriter and of course a founding member of The Rolling Stones. In 2003 Richards was placed at number 10 in the list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. The only ones that placed higher were Jimi Hendrix, Duane Allman, BB King, Eric Clapton, Robert Johnson, Chuck Berry, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ry Cooder and Jimmy Page.

Keith Richard's Life

Keith Richards was born in Dartford. His father was a worker in a factory and his mouther toured Britain in a jazz band called Gus Dupree and his Boys. We could say that music has been an important aspect of his life ever since he was young and his mother played a very important role as she guided him towards important artists like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday.

Richards attended Wilmington Grammar School for Boys and then went to Sidcup Art College. That is when he actually spent more time playing his guitar instead of focusing on studies. He eventually left college and moved into the same flat with Mick Jagger and Brian Jones in 1962.

Keith Richard's Guitar

Keith Richards has taken inspiration from Chuck Berry. The Rolling Stones started off as a rhythm and blues band but he and Mick Jagger also brought rock 'n' roll to the table, inspired by songs of Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry. Keith Richards developed an interesting two-guitar style with Brian Jones and this brought a lot of success to The Rolling Stones. Brian Jones was eventually replaced by Mick Taylor and this eventually brought a higher separation in the lead and rhythm guitars in The Rolling Stones. Taylor was also replaced in 1975 with Ron Wood. This change was the most satisfying for Keith Richards as he declared this was the most musically satisfying period he spent with The Rolling Stones.

Keith Richards currently owns around 1000 guitars but was usually associated with the Fender Telecaster. Lately we noticed him using an ebony Gibson ES-355 and was also seen playing Fender Stratocasters. Few people know that Richards also appears as backing vocals on all Rolling Stones album.

Keith Richards - Private Life

Keith Richards is well known as an outlaw and everybody knows about his drugs related habits. He was arrested twice and charged seriously, first with Mick Jagger and friends at his Sussex estate in 1967 and the second one in 1977. The first arrest was easy as The Times helped by turning the public against the conviction as it was deemed as persecution. Richards was arrested in drug related problems after that several times but only in 1977 things were more serious. He was then charged for possession of 22 grams of heroin and with importing narcotics. Richards was facing a minimum of 7 years imprisonment.

In the following 3 years, Keith Richards needed to polish up as he was constantly under surveillance. This is when The Rolling Stones also released their best selling album, "Some Girls", which sold in 8 million copies. In 1979 Richards was clean of possible charges and also met future wife Patti Hansen. They have two daughters together, Alexandra and Theodora. He also has three children with Anita Pallenberg. Richards constantly jokes of having two wives. He never did marry Anita.

Solo Discography

Keith Richards launched three solo albums:

- Talk is Cheap - October 3 1988
- Live at the Hollywood Palladium - December 15 1988
- Main Offender - October 19 1992

Mick Jagger - Goddess in the Doorway

"Goddess in the Doorway" is the name of Mick Jagger's fourth solo album, released in 2001. It was the first release he had under Virgin Records. Ever since 1991 he had a connection with the label as The Rolling Stones were signed by it. This follow up to 1993's "Wandering Spirit" comes after the band released "Bridges to Babylon in 1997 and after the "Bridges to Babylon Tour". Demo material for "Goddess in the Doorway" was recorded in 2000 and it took until the spring of 2001 for the album to come out. The main producers of the material were himself, Marti Frederiksen and Matt Clifford but Jagger also included young talents like Wyclef Jean and Marti Frederiksen in the mix. Songwriting was mostly signed by mick but there was work with other collaborators like Kravitz and Rob Thomas.

What is interesting is that many of Jagger's friends joined him on this project. This included Pete Townshend, Thomas, Lenny Kravitz, Bono, Wyclef Jean and Joe Perry. Few people know that Townshend was actually the initiating man behind the album. He heard of Mick's demos and spoke to him, saying that they did not sound like The Rolling Stones and that the singer should make a solo album out of them. The end of the summer marked the completion of "Goddess in the Doorway" and "God Gave Me Everything" was chosen as the lead single during October. This track was not very successful but the album, released the following month, received the strongest reviews Jagger ever got, including the material with The Rolling Stones. As expected, Keith Richards attacked the album and called it "Dogshit in the Doorway". He was never comfortable with Mick's solo career ever since it started in 1985, so this was no surprise.

Although critics loved the album, "Goddess in the Doorway" only reached number 44 in UK and number 39 in the US. Although this was the case with the album, it is still considered one of the best Jagger ever recorded as a solo artist. After the album, the singer returned to work with The Rolling Stones on "Forty Licks" and "A Bigger Bang", each followed by impressive tours.

Track List:

1. "Visions Of Paradise"
2. "Joy"
3. "Dancing In The Starlight"
4. "God Gave Me Everything"
5. "Hide Away"
6. "Don't Call Me Up"
7. "Goddess in the Doorway"
8. "Lucky Day"
9. "Everybody Getting High"
10. "Gun"
11. "Too Far Gone"
12. "Brand New Set Of Rules"

Mick Jagger - Wandering Spirit

Mick Jagger's third solo studio album is "Wandering Spirit". It was released in 1993 and marks the only solo release he did in the nineties. Mick tried to re-introduce himself as a solo artist in a surrounding that was definitely changed since his last two projects, "She's The Boss" and "Primitive Cool".

The Rolling Stones recently came from a successful comeback with Steel Wheels, and this was when Keith Richards and Mick Jagger had a very well known feud. That is why Mick started collecting material for "Wandering Spirit". January 1992 saw the singer start recording the project in Los Angeleswith Rick Rubin as co-producer. The whole process took seven months and in September 1992 it was all done. This came as Keith Richards was doing a solo project of his own, "Main Offender". On "Wandering Spirit" there are no celebrities included as featuring acts. The only one that Jagger collaborated with when it comes to voice was Lenny Kravitz on the cover of Bill Withers' track "Use Me". The second and last celebrity on the disc is bassist Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers on three tracks.

At that time The Rolling Stones had finished their contract with Sony Music. The band signed with Virgin Records. Mick Jagger eventually signed with Atlantic Records. "Wandering Spirit" was to be his only album with this label and was released in February 1993. Commercially speaking the disc was a success. It reached number 12 in UK and number 11 in USA, together with going gold there. "Sweet Thing" was the track that turned out to be the album's lead single and all together the project brought strong critical reaction. This came mainly because Mick Jagger gave up on synthesizers and took in lean and incisive guitar sounds.

Nowadays analysts consider "Wandering Spirit" as an important point in Mick Jagger's eventual career achievements, together to the follow up in 2001 with "Goddess in the Doorway".

Track Listing:

1. "Wired All Night"
2. "Sweet Thing"
3. "Out Of Focus"
4. "Don't Tear Me Up"
5. "Put Me In The Trash"
6. "Use Me"
7. "Evening Gown"
8. "Mother Of A Man"
9. "Think"
10. "Wandering Spirit"
11. "Hang On To Me Tonight"
12. "I've Been Lonely For So Long"
13. "Angel In My Heart"
14. "Handsome Molly"

Mick Jagger - Primitive Cool

"Primitive Cool" is the name of the second solo album signed by Mick Jagger. It was released on the 14th of September 1987 and was recorded in 2 sessions, the first between the 17th of November 1986 and the 18th of December 1986 and the second between January and May 1987. As you could expect, it incorporated rock genre songs and has a length of 42 minutes and 20 seconds. It was the follow up to the successful "She's the Boss" CD launched in 1985 and was produced by Mick Jagger, Keith Diamond and David A. Stewart.

The album was supposed to boost Mick Jagger's solo career even more but sparks flew between him and Keith Richards because the singer refused to tour with The Rolling Stones to promote their album, "Dirty Work", launched in 1986. The reason was starting work on "Primitive Cool". Both men made strong comments in the media at that time.

The joined forces between Mick Jagger, Eurythmics guitarist and songwriter David A. Stewart and Keith Diamond were pretty strong at the time. Jeff Beck was used as the regular guitarist on the album.

The lead single was released in September 1987 and was "Let's Work". Public reaction was not as hot as with "She's the Boss". "Primitive Cool" only reached number 26 in the UK tops and number 41 in the USA. Both "Let's Work" and follow up single "Throwaway" were not strong hits. Mick Jagger only toured the album in Australia and Japan, while the UK and USA were avoided.

"Primitive Cool" was released by CBS and was eventually bought and re-issued by Atlantic Records in 1993, after the release of Mick Jagger's third album, "Wandering Spirit"

Track List:

1. "Throwaway"
2. "Let's Work"
3. "Radio Control"
4. "Say You Will"
5. "Primitive Cool"
6. "Kow Tow"
7. "Shoot Off Your Mouth"
8. "Peace For The Wicked"
9. "Party Doll"
10. "War Baby"

If you want to purchase the album see if it is available online:

Mick Jagger - She's The Boss

"She's the Boss" is Mick Jagger's solo debut album launched in 1985. The Rolling Stones signed a contract with CBS Records in 1983 that had a special option available for the members of the band to record solo albums. Mick Jagger took the offer and started working on his first album.

After The Rolling Stones launched their "Undercover" album, Jagger started composing music for the solo project with the help of different musician friends. The actual recording started in May 1984. Individuals involved include Jeff Beck, Carlos Alomar, Pete Townshend and Nile Rodgers.

Mick Jagger was very aware of the musical influences of the time and took complete advantage of his freedom. This is why he made "She's the Boss" an album that was very contemporary and used drum machines and synthesizers.

As expected, Keith Richards was not very pleased that Mick started doing solo work and he felt was important is to emphasize on The Rolling Stones. There was an open conflict between the two in 1986 that took two years to settle down. We could say that this album was filled with controversy, just like Jagger's life.

The lead song for "She's the Boss" was "Just Another Night", an instant hit at the time. The album and the single quickly became worldwide hits. The single reached Number 6 in US Top 10 and the album got to Number 6 in UK and Number 13 in USA, where it went platinum. The follow up was single "Lucky in Love", a top 40 US hit at the time. Critical response was very warm and the album was an overall success.

If you want to purchase the album see if it is available online:

Mick Jagger

When we talk about Mick Jagger we need to refer to him as Sir Michael Philit "Mick" Jagger. He was born on the 26th of July 1943 and can be catalogued as an actor, record and film producer, songwriter, businessman and of course a rock musician. There is no denying that he is one of the world's most famous celebrities and that is of course because he is the front man of The Rolling Stones for so many years now.

Early Life

Mick Jagger was not born rich. His family was in the middle-class of England. Basil Fanshawe Jagger was his father (born 6 April 1913 - death 11 November 2006) and Eva Ensley Mary Scutts, an Australian immigrant to England (born 6 April 1913 - death 18 May 2000) was his mother. Both Mick Jagger's parents were active members of the Conservative Party.

The soon to become rock star was the older of two sons and was supposed to join the career of his father (teacher). Mick Jagger said at one point:

"I was always a singer. I always sang as a child. I was one of those kids who just liked to sing. Some kids sing in choirs; others like to show off in front of the mirror. I was in the church choir and I also loved listening to singers on the radio - the BBC or Radio Luxemburg - or watching them on TV and in the movies."

His academical life was very successful until he quit the London School of Economics to pursue a musical career. What was sad is the fact that Jagger got a scholarship to study here and there are rumors running around that he was actually kicked out because he rode a motorcycle inside the library. This was never confirmed!

Mick Jagger's parents did not approve of his move and his wish to follow music, maybe because at that time there was not a belief that you could have a long career in music. As he was young Jagger had two bands: "Little Boy Blue" and "Blue Boys". As most young bands, they had no success.

Mick Jagger's first connection with what was to become The Rolling Stones came because of similar music tastes. He, Brian Jones and Keith Richards admired the same musicians. He said:

"I had a number of friends who had their own record collections, so we used to go round to their houses and listen to them there... We played everything and anything - that's how you learn... It was all a bit like trainspotting."

Keith Richards and Mick Jagger were schoolmates but the two only reunited after Richards saw Jagger with a blues record and asked where he bought it from. The two joined forces with Ian Stewart, Charlie Watts and Jones to form The Rolling Stones, a name that came from Muddy Waters’ song “Rollin’ Stone”.

Mick Jagger in The Rolling Stones

Jagger was not a success with The Rolling Stones at the start. He was not used to the stage and his presence was not that strong. As with any band at that time all the members started to learn how to raise a crowd by imitating other artists. Mick also learned from different singers while The Rolling Stones toured with different English artists. That is how he developed his own style and eventually started writing songs with Keith Richards, creating a strong friendship between the two. Brian Jones, the main member of the Stones at the time, eventually got isolated as he was not able to contribute to the writing process.

1967 was a difficult year for Mick Jagger. He and Keith Richards were arrested with charges of drug possession thanks to a raid on Keith’s house. It was alleged then that singer Marianne Faithfull was found naked there and it was revealed that the raid was provoked by a tip-off to the London Drug Squad by journalists working for “News of the World”. The problem was that Jagger was mistaken by a journalist with Brian Jones, making the singer sue “News of the World” for defamation. The songwriting duo was eventually found guilty and was released after an appeal. During this period Richards and Jagger took over as the leaders of The Rolling Stones as Brian Jones started abusing drugs and his incapability of writing songs became a reality.

As time passed The Rolling Stones became more and more popular and eventually Mick Jagger and his friend, Prince Rupert Lowenstein, took over the business management of the band. The group continued to be successful and cause controversy.

Controversy

Mick Jagger was an individual that caused controversy and the entire The Rolling Stones band was like that. The “A Bigger Bang” album included the song “Sweet Neo Con”, in which Jagger attacked the George W. Bush presidency. In February 2006 the band played the Super Bowl and Jagger was asked to omit some words with sexual connotations from two songs. As expected, he did not and his microphone was temporarily dipped.

At the Stones Altamont Free Concert in California there were accounts that the Hells Angels were hired to be security for a fee of $500 and free beer. This story was denied by the ones involved and Sam Cutler, the Stones’ road manager declared:

“The only agreement there ever was...the Angels would make sure nobody f@#$ with the generators, but that was the extent of it. But there was no 'They're going to be the police force' or anything like that. That's all bollocks.”

Problems appeared because Hells Angels injured several fans and even killed one young black man. There were allegations that they also sold drugs at the concert. Rumors had it that Mick Jagger in particular did not try to stop the violence and even encouraged it by singing “Sympathy for the Devil” while the man died. This was not correct as this song was played 4 songs before the man was stabbed and the incident took place while the Rolling Stones was singing “Under My Thumb”. Other unfounded rumors stated that Mick Jagger was actually racist and did not want a black fan at his concert. Video tapes show that the singer tried to calm the audience and put an end to the violence. Jagger is also a vocal anti-racist.

Outside Music Activities

Mick Jagger was signed to appear as himself in a sitcom that was supposed to be called “Let’s Rob Mick Jagger”. It was eventually renamed as “The Knights of Prosperity” and Mick guest starred in the premiere episode on January 3, 3007.

Mick’s most notable acting appearance was in Nicolas Roeg’s “Performance” (1968). In 1980 he was also cast as a main character in “Fitzcarraldo”, although he was not able to continue as the movie had production delays and when it was finally possible Jagger was busy with a band tour.
Jagger also starred in 2 art films: “Bent” and “The Man From Elsyian Fields” and appeared in “Freejack” as well. In 1995 Mick founded Jagged Films with Victoria Pearman in order to

“Start my own projects instead of just going in other people's and being involved peripherally or doing music.”

The first release of the company was “Enigma” in 2001. Paramount Pictures eventually announced that Jagger will work with Martin Scorsese to produce a new movie called “The Long Player”.

Mick Jagger’s Solo Albums:

February 1985 – “She’s the Boss”
September 1987 – “Primitive Cool”
February 1993 – “Wandering Spirit”
November 2001 – “Goddess in the Doorway”
October 2007 – “The Very Best of Mick Jagger”

Sir Mick Jagger

At the age of 60 Mick Jagger was knighted on December 12th 2003, for his "services to popular music". This came as an incredible accomplishment as he lived most of his life as a rock icon and a symbol of rebelliousness.

Keith Richard's answer to this was:

"I thought it was ludicrous to take one of those gongs from the establishment... it's not what the Stones is about, is it? I don't want to step out on stage with someone wearing a f@#$ coronet and sporting the old ermine. I told Mick, it's a fucking paltry honour."

Mick Jagger answered:

"I think he would probably like to get the same honour himself. It's like being given an ice cream — one gets one and they all want one. It's nothing new. Keith likes to make a fuss."

As expected, the action was not popular and it did bring several angry letters to The Daily Telegraph and other different publications. Many people believed that by giving such an honor to a person like Jagger all the previous receivers of the award are denigrated.

Introduction to The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are a band of English origins that have influenced hundreds of artists through their combination of rhythm and blues, blues and rock. The band is mainly considered to be a rock band and they were founded in 1962 by Brian Jones. Eventually the line up changed and The Rolling Stones ended up being led by a partnership between lead singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards.

In 1969, during their American tour, the Rolling Stones were presented to the audience as "The Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World", a name that sticked, was used several years after and is still popular today. Their music is very popular among all generations and they sold over 200 million albums across the world.

In 1989 The Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (a museum located in Cleveland that is built to recognize the history of the best-known and most influential personalities in the music industry with a focus on Rock and Roll) and in 2004 Rolling Stones magazine ranked them as number 4 in the "Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time". The three names that topped The Rolling Stones are The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley. The top 10 also includes important artists like Ray Charles, Little Richard, Aretha Franklin, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Hendrix and James Brown.

The Rolling Stones are very important in rock history and music history in general and have appeared in a time when The Beatles held the stage. The latter band was viewed as perfection but the Stones came with sloppier dressings and an attitude that made people connect with them by considering them individuals just like them.