Brian Jones, Founder of the Rolling Stones

Last year the music community and fans marked the				defeated. As Brian
25th				sunk deeper and deeper into a drug-induced stupor, it
anniversary of John Lennon's death. Predictably, quite				has been said
a few new				that his personality became unbearable. Many claim
Beatles books have hit the stores just in time for the				the drug use
holidays.				made him nasty and violent and he was accused of
Few bands have managed to carve out such a				beating more than
coveted place in rock n'				one of his ex-girlfriends, which eventually lead to the
roll history, which leads to the age old question: The				infamous
Beatles or				"Anita Pallenberg incident". Anita, a German model
The Rolling Stones. It's a debate that has raged on				Brian met in
since the early				1966, has been called Brian's only 'true love'. In 1967,
60s, with devoted fans of each voicing their steadfast				she
opinions.				joined Brian and Keith, among others, on a trip to
Others stand firmly in the middle, believing it's simply a				Morocco. Legend
matter				has it Brian became irate with Anita and beat her to
of taste. Both artists contributed much to the history				the point
of recorded				where she fled to Keith, hysterical and begging for
music. More than 40 years after their formation, The				help. Keith
Rolling Stones				came to her rescue and the entire group left
still tour the world, though some argue they are a pale				Morocco, leaving Brian
shadow of				behind. Keith and Anita would eventually become
the once vibrant band they were in the early 60s.				lovers (legend has
Ultimately, they				it she also had onscreen intercourse with Mick while
are still selling out shows and fans are still enjoying				filming the
them.Most Stones fans cite the prolific material of the				cult film "Performance") widening the gap between
1970s as the				Brian and the
group's best work and few can downplay the				other Stones even further. By the time Brian returned
importance of EXILE ON				to the UK on
MAIN STREET and LET IT BLEED. But, the term				his own, his relationship with the Stones was beyond
'best' is open to				repair.It's clear, through stories from bandmates,
interpretation. Surely, it had a strong impact on bands				ex-girlfriends and
to follow				friends, that Brian Jones could be an outright louse but
but the same can be said of the Stones early				he could
material, represented				also be a trusted friend and confident musician. Sadly,
by such classic albums like 1966's AFTERMATH and				by the time
1968's BEGGARS				the Stones recorded the infamous THEIR SATANIC
BANQUET . The early live shows and recordings set				MAJESTIES REQUEST in
new boundaries by				1967, Brian was worlds apart from his former 'best
tying classic blues and R&B together with raw rock n'				buddies'. He
roll. The				hated the album and repeatedly begged the other
blues foundation, which carried over into the Stones				Stones not to
70s material,				release it, claiming it blatantly ripped off the Beatles
was rooted in the band's original guitarist and founder,				SGT.
Brian				PEPPERS album. Strangely enough, this is the first
Jones. The "forgotten Stone" is known to few newer				Stones album
Stones fans.				that featured a track written by a Stone other than
Still, Brian's enigmatic persona and unique style mirrors				Mick or Keith,
Lennon's				Bill Wyman's "In Another Land". Upon release, Brian's
in the Beatles. Accounts claim Lennon was, in fact,				opinion was
closer to Brian				proven correct, as critics and fans dismissed the
than any of the other Stones. The two were				album as a pale
inseparable during the				shadow of its Beatles counterpart. Over time, the
infamous Rock N' Roll Circus debacle of 1968 and				album has been
there were even				given much more credit for its place in rock history. By
rumors they discussed the possibility of a musical				the time
collaboration				the Stones hit the studio to record the follow-up,
prior to Brian's untimely death in 1969. Our imaginations				1968s BEGGARS
could				BANQUET, Brian was all but useless. Luckily, he was
only envision how it would have turned out. Sadly, too				able to
few remember				contribute some fantastic slide guitar to "Salt of the
Brian and the often understated impact he had on				Earth" and
one of the most				lend some backup vocals to "Sympathy for the Devil".
quintessential rock n' roll bands of all time.I've read				Sadly, Keith
nearly every book on the life of Brian Jones and				was forced to pick up most of the slack on this
visited				album, and Brian's
his grave in the English countryside a few years back.				dismissal from the Stones was all but imminent. Brian
Most books				managed to
say the same thing: they talk about Brian's early life				contribute mildly to LET IT BLEED, released in 1969,
and				but his part
childhood; his meeting with Mick and Keith, which led to				is barely worth a mention.The Stones asked Brian to
the				leave the group in June of 1969. The
formation of the Stones; his subsequent downfall due				split was reported in the press as mutual, and Brian
to lack of				retired to his
self-esteem and drug use, and his untimely death ruled				home, Cotchford Farm, formerly owned by A.A. Milne,
a suicide				writer of the
but still believed by many to be murder. Lost in all of				classic "Winnie the Pooh" books. Brian spent much
these books				time working on
is the true insight into Brian as a person. There is				music and 'detoxing' during this time. He reportedly
mention of				discussed
both his many character flaws, which contributed to				collaborations with other musicians, including the
his ultimate				members of
downfall, and his many attributes, including a tenacity				Credence Clearwater Revival and John Lennon.
that drove				Sadly, on July 2,
the Stones to the forefront of a musical rebellion. The				1969, Brian Jones was found dead in his swimming
two				pool, his passing
conflicting sides of Brian's personality somehow				ruled "death by misadventure" a/k/a drowning.
melded together to				Interestingly,
form a musician with unique talent, whose musical				neither Mick Jagger nor Keith Richards attended
"flavorings"				Brian's funeral,
helped the Stones stand out from their				though the Stones held a 'memorial concert' in Hyde
contemporaries; from the				Park days after
sitar on "Paint It Black to the dulcimer on "Lady				his death. Both Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman
Jane".The Rolling Stones were formed in the early 60s				attended the service
when Brian came				in Brian's native Cheltenham, while rumors that Brian's
together with childhood friends Mick Jagger and Keith				death was
Richards. In				actually murder surfaced shortly thereafter. First, his
the early years, the three held each other in				girlfriend
admiration and even				at the time, Anna Wohlin, was whisked away never
lived together in squalor in a small London apartment				to be seen again.
without heat				Second, though Brian was an expert swimmer and
during one of the roughest winters on record in the				there was a nurse at
UK. Brian had a				his home the evening of his death, no one was able
hard time holding onto steady work and he and Keith				to save him.
would spend				Third, though Brian did have narcotics in his system at
hours practicing guitar riffs in their freezing apartment.				the time of
The trio				his death, they were not strong enough to have
would often share a bed to keep warm at night, a				rendered him
story that				helpless in his own pool. New theories have abounded
eventually led to rumors that Mick and Brian had a				in books by
sexual				Wohlin and Terry Rawlings, among others. The
relationship. Mick, Keith and Brian were the glue that				general consensus is
held the				that Brian was killed by a live-in contractor, Frank
Stones together until they crossed paths with Andrew				Thorogood.
Oldham, who				Published reports claim the two had a falling out,
became their manager and marketer. His business				prompting
savvy impressed				Thorogood to hold Brian's head under the water until
the group and they trusted his input, which eventually				he drowned.
included				Rawling's book claims, according to former Stones
elevating Mick and Keith to the post of songwriting				tour manager Tom
team (an				Keylock, Thorogood eventually confessed to the
unofficial 'poster boys'). Though not able to break into				crime on his
the				deathbed. British producer Stephen Wooley is
"Glitter Twins" writing monopoly, Brian was able				currently working on a
contribute				film centered mainly on Wohlin's book. STONED
enduring musical masterpieces, with instruments				(scheduled for
ignored in				release in early 2006) claims to finally 'solve' the
contemporary music up until that time. Truly gifted,				mystery of
Brian was able				Brian's death. According to Wooley, Janet Lawson
to pick up just about any instrument and learn how to				(the nurse at
play it in				Brian's home on the night he died) offered valuable
just a few hours time. His brilliant sitar performance on				information
"Paint It				that led to the ending of the film. The indie film may be
Black" is heralded as one of his best. The song owes				hard to
its "classic"				find at local theaters but a DVD release is also
status to Brian's inspired performance. Regardless,				planned. Whether
Brian was				or not the film is a success, the music of the Stones
gradually removed as self-proclaimed 'leader' of the				will stand as
Stones. Only				a testament to Brian's legacy. If you aren't familiar with
those present can be certain of the dynamics at play,				the
but the				early material, now is your chance to pick it up. It
accepted version is that Mick and Keith grew closer				surely shaped
while writing,				all Stones material to come, including their current
as Brian became more and more alienated. His				work. If you
severe self-esteem				are interested in more on Brian's life, there are many
problem, something he was never able to conquer,				books to
apparently kept				check out, each with subtle nuances and interesting
him from offering input and further isolated him from				stories. Either way, it's a pleasant musical education.
the band. It				Happy New Year!If you are interested in more articles
has been said that Brian actually wrote songs and				let us know.DefstarLtd Auctions dedicated to providing
had he been more				unique products from entertainment memorabilia to
mentally stable, he might have been confident enough				technology and beyond. Please check out our website
to present				and contact us with questions.
them to the band. They are now rumored to be held				Thank you,Dawn SimondsLee Simonds EARLY
by one of his				STONES ALBUMS:ENGLAND'S NEWEST
many ex-girlfriends. Some members of the Stones				HITMAKERS / 1964 [includes a fantastic cover
inner circle claim				version of Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away"]THE
that Brian, and not Keith Richards, actually crafted the				ROLLING STONES, NOW! / 1965 [great slide work by
famous				Brian on
riff that launches the Stones classic "Satisfaction". The				"Little Red Rooster"]OUT OF OUR HEADS / 1965
story				[featuring the classic "Satisfaction"]AFTERMATH /
goes that Brian was playing the riff one day, and				1966 [standouts include "Paint It Black" and "Lady
Keith heard it.				Jane"]BEGGARS BANQUET / 1968 [Brian's 'swan
Later, Keith awoke in the middle of the night and				song' slide work on "Salt of
began playing the				the Earth"]"Jumpin' Jack Flash" / 1968 single [some
riff into a tape recorder, expanding on it to create the				nice 'color' from Brian]SUGGESTED READING:"Who
tune that				Killed Christopher Robin?" / Terry Rawlings [June
became legendary. The rumor of Brian's input has				2005]"The Murder Of Brian Jones" / Anna Wohlin
never been				[October 2000]"Golden Stone" / Laura Jackson
corroborated. Ultimately, Brian's paranoid insistence				[October 1993] (this one is out of
that the				print but worth finding)"Death Of A Rolling Stone" /
remainder of the Stones were "out to get him" kept				Mandy Aftel [September 1982] (major
him from				collector's item, fetching more than $200 used and
achieving his most coveted musical: to be recognized				very rare)"The Last Decadent" / Jeremy Reed [July
as a				1999]"Brian Jones: The Inside Story of A Rolling Stone"
songwriter.By the mid-60s, Brian Jones had developed				Nicholas
a serious dependence on				Fitzgerald [October 1985] (another rare find, not much
illegal drugs. Sadly, these mixed badly with his poor				new
mental				information, but worth it for a collector)"Paint It Black:
health, leading to further isolation and paranoia. If Brian				The Murder of Brian Jones" / Geoffrey Guliano
were				[April 1994] (I've heard mixed reviews on this one; it's
alive today, he would most likely be diagnosed as				quite
manic depressive				similar to Terry Rawlings' book.)Dawn Simonds is a
and placed on medication to control his extreme ups				music professional with 6 years of experience under
and downs. In				her belt. She currently works in the business & legal
Brian's day, however, far less was known about such				affairs department at Universal Music Group, home to
medical				such prolific labels as Def Jam and Motown. Dawn
conditions and Brian was left to cope with his growing				began writing at a young age and honed her skills as
stardom and				entertainment editor for The Beacon at William
increasingly shrinking role in the Stones and unable to				Paterson University. She graduated with honors from
dig himself				the School of Communication in 1995. She currently
out of the cycle of alternating megalomania and				makes her home in Queens, NY with her husband, Lee
self-loathing.				Simonds. Both Dawn and Lee are actors, working with
Interestingly, Mick and Keith's much-publicized "drug				The Queens Players out of Long Island City, NY. As
orgy" at				entrepreneurs, they have launched DefstarLtd.
Keith's home, Redlands, eclipsed Brian's own arrest				Auctions dedicated to providing unique products from
and trial for				entertainment memorabilia to technology and beyond.
retaining a controlled substance. Even in drug use,				Please check out our website and contact us with
Brian had				questions.
failed to measure up and he continued to feel

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Brian Jones, Founder of the Rolling Stones