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Brian Jones, Founder of the Rolling Stones

Last year the music community and fans marked				retaining a controlled substance. Even in
the 25th				drug use, Brian had

anniversary of John Lennon's death.				failed to measure up and he continued to
Predictably, quite a few new				feel defeated. As Brian

Beatles books have hit the stores just in				sunk deeper and deeper into a drug-induced
time for the holidays.				stupor, it has been said

Few bands have managed to carve out such a				that his personality became unbearable. Many
coveted place in rock n'				claim the drug use

roll history, which leads to the age old				made him nasty and violent and he was
question: The Beatles or				accused of beating more than

The Rolling Stones. It's a debate that has				one of his ex-girlfriends, which eventually
raged on since the early				lead to the infamous

60s, with devoted fans of each voicing their				"Anita Pallenberg incident". Anita, a German
steadfast opinions.				model Brian met in

Others stand firmly in the middle, believing				1966, has been called Brian's only 'true
it's simply a matter				love'. In 1967, she

of taste. Both artists contributed much to				joined Brian and Keith, among others, on a
the history of recorded				trip to Morocco. Legend

music. More than 40 years after their				has it Brian became irate with Anita and
formation, The Rolling Stones				beat her to the point

still tour the world, though some argue they				where she fled to Keith, hysterical and
are a pale shadow of				begging for help. Keith

the once vibrant band they were in the early				came to her rescue and the entire group left
60s. Ultimately, they				Morocco, leaving Brian

are still selling out shows and fans are				behind. Keith and Anita would eventually
still enjoying them.Most Stones fans cite the				become lovers (legend has
prolific material of the 1970s as the
				it she also had onscreen intercourse with
group's best work and few can downplay the				Mick while filming the
importance of EXILE ON
				cult film "Performance") widening the gap
MAIN STREET and LET IT BLEED. But, the term				between Brian and the
'best' is open to
				other Stones even further. By the time Brian
interpretation. Surely, it had a strong				returned to the UK on
impact on bands to follow
				his own, his relationship with the Stones
but the same can be said of the Stones early				was beyond repair.It's clear, through stories
material, represented				from bandmates, ex-girlfriends and

by such classic albums like 1966's AFTERMATH				friends, that Brian Jones could be an
and 1968's BEGGARS				outright louse but he could

BANQUET . The early live shows and				also be a trusted friend and confident
recordings set new boundaries by				musician. Sadly, by the time

tying classic blues and R&B together with				the Stones recorded the infamous THEIR
raw rock n' roll. The				SATANIC MAJESTIES REQUEST in

blues foundation, which carried over into				1967, Brian was worlds apart from his former
the Stones 70s material,				'best buddies'. He

was rooted in the band's original guitarist				hated the album and repeatedly begged the
and founder, Brian				other Stones not to

Jones. The "forgotten Stone" is known to few				release it, claiming it blatantly ripped off
newer Stones fans.				the Beatles SGT.

Still, Brian's enigmatic persona and unique				PEPPERS album. Strangely enough, this is the
style mirrors Lennon's				first Stones album

in the Beatles. Accounts claim Lennon was,				that featured a track written by a Stone
in fact, closer to Brian				other than Mick or Keith,

than any of the other Stones. The two were				Bill Wyman's "In Another Land". Upon
inseparable during the				release, Brian's opinion was

infamous Rock N' Roll Circus debacle of 1968				proven correct, as critics and fans
and there were even				dismissed the album as a pale

rumors they discussed the possibility of a				shadow of its Beatles counterpart. Over
musical collaboration				time, the album has been

prior to Brian's untimely death in 1969. Our				given much more credit for its place in rock
imaginations could				history. By the time

only envision how it would have turned out.				the Stones hit the studio to record the
Sadly, too few remember				follow-up, 1968s BEGGARS

Brian and the often understated impact he				BANQUET, Brian was all but useless. Luckily,
had on one of the most				he was able to

quintessential rock n' roll bands of all				contribute some fantastic slide guitar to
time.I've read nearly every book on the life				"Salt of the Earth" and
of Brian Jones and visited
				lend some backup vocals to "Sympathy for the
his grave in the English countryside a few				Devil". Sadly, Keith
years back. Most books
				was forced to pick up most of the slack on
say the same thing: they talk about Brian's				this album, and Brian's
early life and
				dismissal from the Stones was all but
childhood; his meeting with Mick and Keith,				imminent. Brian managed to
which led to the
				contribute mildly to LET IT BLEED, released
formation of the Stones; his subsequent				in 1969, but his part
downfall due to lack of
				is barely worth a mention.The Stones asked
self-esteem and drug use, and his untimely				Brian to leave the group in June of 1969. The
death ruled a suicide
				split was reported in the press as mutual,
but still believed by many to be murder.				and Brian retired to his
Lost in all of these books
				home, Cotchford Farm, formerly owned by A.A.
is the true insight into Brian as a person.				Milne, writer of the
There is mention of
				classic "Winnie the Pooh" books. Brian spent
both his many character flaws, which				much time working on
contributed to his ultimate
				music and 'detoxing' during this time. He
downfall, and his many attributes, including				reportedly discussed
a tenacity that drove
				collaborations with other musicians,
the Stones to the forefront of a musical				including the members of
rebellion. The two
				Credence Clearwater Revival and John Lennon.
conflicting sides of Brian's personality				Sadly, on July 2,
somehow melded together to
				1969, Brian Jones was found dead in his
form a musician with unique talent, whose				swimming pool, his passing
musical "flavorings"
				ruled "death by misadventure" a/k/a
helped the Stones stand out from their				drowning. Interestingly,
contemporaries; from the
				neither Mick Jagger nor Keith Richards
sitar on "Paint It Black to the dulcimer on				attended Brian's funeral,
"Lady Jane".The Rolling Stones were formed in
the early 60s when Brian came				though the Stones held a 'memorial concert'
				in Hyde Park days after
together with childhood friends Mick Jagger
and Keith Richards. In				his death. Both Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman
				attended the service
the early years, the three held each other
in admiration and even				in Brian's native Cheltenham, while rumors
				that Brian's death was
lived together in squalor in a small London
apartment without heat				actually murder surfaced shortly thereafter.
				First, his girlfriend
during one of the roughest winters on record
in the UK. Brian had a				at the time, Anna Wohlin, was whisked away
				never to be seen again.
hard time holding onto steady work and he
and Keith would spend				Second, though Brian was an expert swimmer
				and there was a nurse at
hours practicing guitar riffs in their
freezing apartment. The trio				his home the evening of his death, no one
				was able to save him.
would often share a bed to keep warm at
night, a story that				Third, though Brian did have narcotics in
				his system at the time of
eventually led to rumors that Mick and Brian
had a sexual				his death, they were not strong enough to
				have rendered him
relationship. Mick, Keith and Brian were the
glue that held the				helpless in his own pool. New theories have
				abounded in books by
Stones together until they crossed paths
with Andrew Oldham, who				Wohlin and Terry Rawlings, among others. The
				general consensus is
became their manager and marketer. His
business savvy impressed				that Brian was killed by a live-in
				contractor, Frank Thorogood.
the group and they trusted his input, which
eventually included				Published reports claim the two had a
				falling out, prompting
elevating Mick and Keith to the post of
songwriting team (an				Thorogood to hold Brian's head under the
				water until he drowned.
unofficial 'poster boys'). Though not able
to break into the				Rawling's book claims, according to former
				Stones tour manager Tom
"Glitter Twins" writing monopoly, Brian was
able contribute				Keylock, Thorogood eventually confessed to
				the crime on his
enduring musical masterpieces, with
instruments ignored in				deathbed. British producer Stephen Wooley is
				currently working on a
contemporary music up until that time. Truly
gifted, Brian was able				film centered mainly on Wohlin's book.
				STONED (scheduled for
to pick up just about any instrument and
learn how to play it in				release in early 2006) claims to finally
				'solve' the mystery of
just a few hours time. His brilliant sitar
performance on "Paint It				Brian's death. According to Wooley, Janet
				Lawson (the nurse at
Black" is heralded as one of his best. The
song owes its "classic"				Brian's home on the night he died) offered
				valuable information
status to Brian's inspired performance.
Regardless, Brian was				that led to the ending of the film. The
				indie film may be hard to
gradually removed as self-proclaimed
'leader' of the Stones. Only				find at local theaters but a DVD release is
				also planned. Whether
those present can be certain of the dynamics
at play, but the				or not the film is a success, the music of
				the Stones will stand as
accepted version is that Mick and Keith grew
closer while writing,				a testament to Brian's legacy. If you aren't
				familiar with the
as Brian became more and more alienated. His
severe self-esteem				early material, now is your chance to pick
				it up. It surely shaped
problem, something he was never able to
conquer, apparently kept				all Stones material to come, including their
				current work. If you
him from offering input and further isolated
him from the band. It				are interested in more on Brian's life,
				there are many books to
has been said that Brian actually wrote
songs and had he been more				check out, each with subtle nuances and
				interesting stories. Either way, it's a
mentally stable, he might have been				pleasant musical education. Happy New
confident enough to present				Year!If you are interested in more articles
				let us know.DefstarLtd Auctions dedicated to
them to the band. They are now rumored to be				providing unique products from entertainment
held by one of his				memorabilia to technology and beyond. Please
				check out our website and contact us with
many ex-girlfriends. Some members of the				questions.
Stones inner circle claim
				Thank you,Dawn SimondsLee Simonds EARLY
that Brian, and not Keith Richards, actually				STONES ALBUMS:ENGLAND'S NEWEST HITMAKERS /
crafted the famous				1964 [includes a fantastic cover

riff that launches the Stones classic				version of Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away"]THE
"Satisfaction". The story				ROLLING STONES, NOW! / 1965 [great slide work
				by Brian on
goes that Brian was playing the riff one
day, and Keith heard it.				"Little Red Rooster"]OUT OF OUR HEADS / 1965
				[featuring the classic
Later, Keith awoke in the middle of the				"Satisfaction"]AFTERMATH / 1966 [standouts
night and began playing the				include "Paint It Black" and "Lady
				Jane"]BEGGARS BANQUET / 1968 [Brian's 'swan
riff into a tape recorder, expanding on it				song' slide work on "Salt of
to create the tune that
				the Earth"]"Jumpin' Jack Flash" / 1968
became legendary. The rumor of Brian's input				single [some nice 'color' from
has never been				Brian]SUGGESTED READING:"Who Killed
				Christopher Robin?" / Terry Rawlings [June
corroborated. Ultimately, Brian's paranoid				2005]"The Murder Of Brian Jones" / Anna
insistence that the				Wohlin [October 2000]"Golden Stone" / Laura
				Jackson [October 1993] (this one is out of
remainder of the Stones were "out to get
him" kept him from				print but worth finding)"Death Of A Rolling
				Stone" / Mandy Aftel [September 1982] (major
achieving his most coveted musical: to be
recognized as a				collector's item, fetching more than $200
				used and very rare)"The Last Decadent" /
songwriter.By the mid-60s, Brian Jones had				Jeremy Reed [July 1999]"Brian Jones: The
developed a serious dependence on				Inside Story of A Rolling Stone" / Nicholas

illegal drugs. Sadly, these mixed badly with				Fitzgerald [October 1985] (another rare
his poor mental				find, not much new

health, leading to further isolation and				information, but worth it for a
paranoia. If Brian were				collector)"Paint It Black: The Murder of
				Brian Jones" / Geoffrey Guliano
alive today, he would most likely be
diagnosed as manic depressive				[April 1994] (I've heard mixed reviews on
				this one; it's quite
and placed on medication to control his
extreme ups and downs. In				similar to Terry Rawlings' book.)Dawn
				Simonds is a music professional with 6 years
Brian's day, however, far less was known				of experience under her belt. She currently
about such medical				works in the business & legal affairs
				department at Universal Music Group, home to
conditions and Brian was left to cope with				such prolific labels as Def Jam and Motown.
his growing stardom and				Dawn began writing at a young age and honed
				her skills as entertainment editor for The
increasingly shrinking role in the Stones				Beacon at William Paterson University. She
and unable to dig himself				graduated with honors from the School of
				Communication in 1995. She currently makes
out of the cycle of alternating megalomania				her home in Queens, NY with her husband, Lee
and self-loathing.				Simonds. Both Dawn and Lee are actors,
				working with The Queens Players out of Long
Interestingly, Mick and Keith's				Island City, NY. As entrepreneurs, they have
much-publicized "drug orgy" at				launched DefstarLtd. Auctions dedicated to
				providing unique products from entertainment
Keith's home, Redlands, eclipsed Brian's own				memorabilia to technology and beyond. Please
arrest and trial for				check out our website and contact us with
				questions.

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Brian Jones, Founder of the Rolling Stones