Fans almost killed the Rolling Stones twice at crazy gigs in the Sixties, a new book on the band reveals
They’ve been going strong for 60 years but The Rolling Stones almost hit the skids early on after a series of violent gigs. A new biography tells how the band survived a string of dangerous incidents during their 1960s hysteria.
On July 23, 1964, the group visited Blackpool to play for 7,000 fans. The band’s road manager at the time, Ian Stewart, recalls: “We get into town and it’s full of these ravers from Glasgow.” After a rowdy first set, hundreds of fans tried to lay hands on the Stones in the evening show.
When they began to boo each song, guitarist Keith Richards told them to “shut the f*** up” – then booted one kid in the face when he spat at him. All hell broke loose. Ian leaped towards Keith. He recalls: “I just pushed him and said, ‘For f***’s sake get out of here while you’re still alive’.”
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Backstage, the band heard the kids destroying “anything they could get their hands on”. Singer Mick Jagger said: “We were scared stiff, nothing like this has happened before.”
Police called for the Stones to be banned from Blackpool and the town council’s injunction lasted 44 years. By the end of the 1960s, fate and misfortune meant the band would never be the same again.
The story began in May 1962 when Keith joined founder and guitarist Brian Jones and Mick to play their first gig without a drummer in the Bunch of Grapes pub in Sutton, South London.
Using various line-ups, they honed their act in small clubs before playing to over 600 people in London’s Marquee in January 1963.
A year after the Blackpool fiasco, they were almost crushed alive in California. Jagger, Richards, Jones, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts played Long Beach Civic Auditorium.
They did a ‘London Exit’ after their set – dropping their instruments and running to a car outside. But a swarm of teenagers surrounded the limo and leaped on its roof. Bill recalls: “We lay on the floor and pushed the roof with our feet with all our strength to stop it caving in.” Police with batons took 45 minutes to get the Stones to safety.
By this time, Brian was struggling with drugs, troubled relationships and the trappings of fame. Author Bob Spitz writes: “He was too fragile, his confidence undermined, his emotional stabilising eroding.” By 1969 the Stones hit breaking point and he was not involved in recording hits like Gimme Shelter and Honky Tonk Women. Charlie recalls: “Everybody made the decision, but it was almost made by itself.”
Mick Taylor replaced Brian and a free gig was planned for July 5, 1969 in Hyde Park. But two days before it, Brian was found dead in his pool at his Sussex home. The book says the “timeline of events didn’t add up” and rumours of foul play remain.
The band released thousands of butterflies in tribute to Brian at the massive gig. The band’s core continued for some time, mixing success with excess.
Before each tour, Charlie – who died in 2021 – was said to ask: “Why do people keep showing up?” Ronnie, Mick and Author Bob answers: “They were people who were ageing but still entertained fantasies of rebellion and eternal youth.” A bit like the band themselves.
* Adapted from The Rolling Stones by Bob Spitz, out on May 28, and published by Michael Joseph.
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