The Rolling Stones
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112 Chapter7 George Harrison wrote and recorded albums of his Tho membersof the Rolling Stones,Mick Jagger(born own and alsobecame very involvedin movie production in 1943) and Keith Richard (born in 1943),had attended for Handmade Films, wherehe often worked with mem- the sameprimary school.(Keiths name had beenmistak- bers of the British comedy troupe Monry Python. Ringo enly spelled"Richards" enough times that he eventually Starr pursuedhis own careeras a singerand actor and oc- adopted the final "s" himself.) Although they lost contact casionallyplayed drums on recordingsmade by the other with eachother for ten years,they had both becomeblues ex-Beatles.Harrison and Starrplayed together on several fans after hearing Muddy \Taters perform in England in of Harrison'salbums, including the successfulCloud Nine 1958. \XAen they ran into eachother againin 1960 they (1987). Harrison died of cancerin 2001. In 1989, fungo began to work together,joining various blues groups in pur togetherwhat he calledhis All-Starr Band for a tour. London. ln 1962,they formed the Rolling Stones,naming The band included Nils Lofgren, Billy Preston, Joe their group after the "rolling stone" that representeda tough Walsh, Dr. John, Jim Keltner,Rick Danko, Levon Helm, and independentman in bluessongs like "Rollin' Stone" and ClarenceClemons. Of thosemembers, only Lofgren and "Mannish Boy" (both recordedby MuddyWaters). and'Walshwere in the 1992 "All Starrs,"accompanied by The original Rolling Stones included singer/harpist Dave Edmunds,Todd Rundgren,and others. Mick Jagger,guirarist Keith fuchards, guitarist Brian McCartney, Harrison, and Starr-at the time, the three Jones(1942-1969), pianisr Ian Stewart,and other musi- living Beatles-finally dropped their various feuds and re- cianswho playedwith them off and on during their first grouped to record two new Beatlesongs, "Free as a Bird" year. In December 1962, BilI Wyman (\William Perks, (1995) and "RealLove" (1996),which werereleased along born in 1936)was addedon bass,and in January1963, with many rare tracks and outtakesfrom the past on two Charlie lVatts (born in 1941) joined as drummer. When double-CD volumes entitled The BeatlesAnthology 1 Andrew Oldham wassigned as their manager,he choseto (1995) and Tbe BeatlesAnrhology 2 (1996). The new songs remove Stewart from the official group roster, although were indeed recordedby all four Beatlesbecause tapes made Stewartdid condnue to do occasionalwork with the band by John Lennon were usedas the basisof the recordings, throughout their careeruntil his death in 1985. with the other Beatlesadding new vocalsand instrumental Although they startedout playing rhythm and blues, tracks. The BeatlesAnthologti was releasedlater in 1996. most of the Stones'more popular early recordingswere The Americanpress, particularly when introducing the coversof songsby other rock artists.Their first hit in Eng- Beatlesin 1964, portrayedthem asgood, clean,firn, nice iand (1963)was a coverof Chuck Berry's"Come On"; their guys. Yes, they had hair that was a bit long by American secondwas "I \7annaBe Your Man" ( 1963),by Lennonand standards, but after all they were English so they could McCartney; and their third was a 1964 cover of Buddy Iook a bit different.The Rolling Stones,on the other hand, Hoilyt "Not FadeAway." fu the listening guide for "Not weregiven the imageof "bad guvs."The Beatlesdressed in Fade Away" shows, the Stones' recording did not follow matching suits,a look that the Rolling Stonesresisted at all Holly'ssryle at all.They turnedthe pop-rockabillysong inro costs.The Beatlessang songs about love or dancing,and rhythm and blues.The listeningguide on page 114 is a the Rolling Stonessang coversof blues and rhythm and comparison of the two recordings.The Stones'version blues songs.Right from the beginning, the British inva- was a number three hit on the British pop charts and sion was led bv theserwo diversebands. number forty-eight on the American charts. By 1964, the Beatleshad become well known interna- The Rolling Stones tionalll', and the Stonesfollowed along,gaining a reputation asthe Beatles'nasty opposites. American teens preferred the The Rolling Stones of the two-thousandsis not a Beatiesat first, but the Stonessoon won a large following. rhythm and blues band, but the Rolling Stonesof the After all, rebellionhad long beenpart of the history of rock early sixtieswas one of Britain'sbest. Their bohemian and roll music. lifestylewas shocking to most conventionalBritons, but then they never cared to appealto the conventional. Lb The mayor of Denver once sent They playedan expressive,like-it-or-go-to-hell brand of rhythm and blues,and becauseboth the music and their us a letter asking us to come in rebelliousimage appealed especially to young audiences, quietly, do the show as quietly as they attracteduntold numbersof bluesfans. They be- possible and split ttre same night, came one of the longest-livedgroups in rhe history of if possible. They might rock music. In the course of their career,they veered away from rhythm and blues in most of rheir original entertain the Beatles, but they compositions, but their concerrscontinually revived wanted to kick us out of town. )) ― their roots. ― -Keith Richards l l i.