The Rolling Stones

Urban Myths: Mick & Margaret
How a friendship between the rocker and the Princess might have developed over the decades, as she respected him more for respecting her more than her family and friends did. But he didn't get his KBE until Blair wasn't PM any more. Nicely done, with Stargroves, Mustique and royal intrigues in the mix.

In the present day, the Stones have returned to the stage with Mick apparently little the worse for his recent health issues.

Stoned, by Andrew Loog Oldham
The loquacious early manager of the Stones tells his story (or up to mid-1964 anyway), how he saw the Stones as an opportunity, and made the most of it, getting Mick & Keith to write songs, sidelining Brian from early on, and getting records to make an impact. He looked to one of Cliff Richard's films, Expresso Bongo, as inspirational in terms of Laurence Harvey's role as Bongo's manager. A very entertaining read.

Suburban Steps to Rockland - The Story of the Ealing Club
Many acts could claim some connection to a London blues scene which boosted the developments of their acts, from Cream to the Who, but the story kept coming back to Mick Jagger and Brian Jones, and hence the Rolling Stones.  Alexis Korner and John Mayall got their due too. I saw this before the news of Ginger Baker's death too.

Annie Leibovitz - Life Through A Lens
This 2006 profile covered her story, through the Rolling Stone years, as well as later work with Vanity Fair. She photographed rockers like Patti Smith and John Lennon - Yoko recalled a photoshoot with John which took place only a few hours before his untimely murder. She even went on tour with the Rolling Stones. Mick and Keith were both flattered and flattering about her work, which helped set new standards for the form.

They've produced their first new song in many years - Living In A Ghost Town apparently originated before the current pandemic, but has been completed to reflect it more overtly.

Somebody Up There Likes Me
Ronnie Wood gets the treatment, with director Mike Figgis in the chair. Mick, Keith and Charlie of the other Stones all spoke up, as did Rod Stewart and Damien Hirst. Some novelty came from an archive chat with Malcolm McLaren and Peter Grant, which I don't recall coming up elsewhere (I suspect it was a Figgis-own item, which would explain something). Ronnie was pretty honest, and grateful to have survived.

Top Gear - Ronnie Wood
He was on in 2007. He mentioned being friends with Keith Moon. He once stayed awake with Keith Richards for 6 days and nights whilst the Stones were at Madison Square Garden, including jamming with Eric Clapton and other larks, before sleeping for 2 days straight afterwards. Keith once shot his own guitar by mistake, thinking it was Mick's. Charlie Watts owns rare cars but has (or had) no driving licence. He lapped in the Chevrolet Lacetti in a decent 1m 49.4s

The Glastonbury Experience: The Rolling Stones @ 2013
Another short extract from their landmark appearance - notable for including tracks never before shown, which begs a question. As the tracks here were Jumping Jack Flash, It's Only Rock N Roll, Paint It, Black and Gimme Shelter, you wonder what the problem was.

The band have also crossed swords once again with U.S. President Donald Trump over his use of their hit You Can't Always Get What You Want, which they don't approve of him using.

They're #1 in the albums charts here with a new souped-up version of their classic Goat's Head Soup album. It had been previously reissued in 1994 and 2009 as well.

Mick has given an interview in part of which he has inferred he'll never bring a memoir out, though he's famously known to have tried. Looking back takes it out of him, and he'd prefer to focus on the present. Which in his case, is probably quite reasonable.

It was again Ronnie's turn in the news lately, reporting that he was recovering from a relapse of cancer, and now had the all-clear.

Rolling Stones Drummer Charlie Watts has died at age 80. RIP

Yes, a sad, somewhat momentous day. I saw the news last week about him not being able to be part of their next touring journey, but I didn't suspect the picture would change this quickly. The main band line-up has been fairly unbroken for such a long time, and now it's never going to be like it was again.

RIP 

Charlie Watts at the BBC
A swiftly-compiled half-hour from various spots, a couple with the rest of the Stones, a couple leaning on his jazz background/sideline, and even the odd chat appearance.

More tragedy as tour manager Mick Bridgen died at 73, whilst digging a grave for his dog:

https://outsider.com/news/entertainment/rolling-stones-tour-manager-mick-brigden-dead-73-devastating-accident/

RIP 

Former Stone Bill Wyman has reached the age of 85 today 

Days of Rage - The Rolling Stones' Road to Altamont
This 2019 effort was a lengthy look at the 1960s, how the Stones differed from the Beatles, how American social change progressed, and how best laid plans for a free concert all turned so sour. One intriguing note was that Woodstock whizz Michael Lang okayed the Altamont site, despite the grave reservations of the Stones' actual team. Keith Altham and Anthony deCurtis were among the familiar faces telling the tale.

Sputnik - Jo Wood
Ronnie's ex-wife talked to George via satellite; she has a book out, unimaginatively called Stoned. She and Ronnie were together for more than thirty years, and she still misses the touring life. She's living an off-grid organic life these days and has her own beauty brand. She claims to have seen a UFO in Brazil one time she was there with Ronnie. George believes in there being life elsewhere, but not abductions.

Indefatigably, they've announced plans for their 60th Anniversary tour of the UK this summer, and there's talk that such a moment will be marked by no less than 4 new documentaries on them too 

They've had to postpone of the "Sixty" tour dates because Sir Mick has got covid   GWS

misery guts wrote: be marked by no less than 4 new documentaries on them too 

My Life as a Rolling Stone: Mick Jagger
Besides the three surviving Stones, who appeared in vision, the many other contributors were in sound only, but they ranged from Lulu and Chrissie Hynde, through Brian Johnson and Lars Ulrich, to Tina Turner and PP Arnold. The Altamont debacle proved pivotal in Mick taking control and the improvements that followed.

Rolling Stones: Licked - Live In NYC
From 2003 at Madison Square Garden, but a spirited set that managed to include Sheryl Crow on their version of Honky Tonk Women. They started with Street Fighting Man rather than Start Me Up also. But finished on Sympathy For The Devil.

My Life as a Rolling Stone: Keith Richards
He's quite shy, but still far from retiring. His praises were rightly sung, in some cases by the same sort of people as in the Mick doc, but Tom Waits, Joe Walsh, Jon bon Jovi and T-Bone Burnett were among those new this time.

My Life as a Rolling Stone: Ronnie Wood
He met and jammed with Mick Jagger first, helping create It's Only Rock & Roll, but not getting the credit. But when Mick Taylor left, Ronnie was on the spot, and despite extensive auditions, was the best choice on the table. He's a conciliator and great mate for Keith. His drug troubles nearly put a stop, but Keith helped bring him back. A good-time gent.

My Life as a Rolling Stone: Charlie Watts
Clearly the hardest one, Keith especially still gutted. Some archive of Charlie helped, as well as footage of his artefact archive. He was charmingly rueful about the tedium of touring, and Ronnie mentioned his artworks. He too had a drug phase, but was more keen on couture.

The Rolling Stones: Under Review 1963-1966
Rather "usual suspects" stuff, covering the band's first 4 albums, and singles from Come On through to Have You Seen Your Mother Baby, Standing in the Shadow? It's funny that they used Lennon & McCartney for I Wanna Be Your Man but really hit paydirt with Not Fade Away. Once Mick and Keith got into a busy groove, then things started to fade away for Brian. 

The Rolling Stones: Live at the Wiltern Theatre
A gig from 2002, though the full thing is apparently about an hour longer. Still, the crowd, which included guests like Neil Young, seemed happy enough. Solomon Burke guested on a random cover of Everybody Needs Somebody To Love.

misery guts wrote:Stoned, by Andrew Loog Oldham
The loquacious early manager of the Stones tells his story (or up to mid-1964 anyway), how he saw the Stones as an opportunity, and made the most of it, getting Mick & Keith to write songs, sidelining Brian from early on, and getting records to make an impact. He looked to one of Cliff Richard's films, Expresso Bongo, as inspirational in terms of Laurence Harvey's role as Bongo's manager. A very entertaining read.

2Stoned, by Andrew Loog Oldham
He picked his story up, through to where he and the Stones parted ways; plus further tales of an ill-fated project with Humble Pie, and his later recovery from drugs. Again, many other contributors, from Pete Townshend to Gruff Rhys. Again, a very entertaining read.