The Daily Mirror has released the first of a three-part series charting the Rolling Stones' rise to become one of the greatest bands on the planet. Part one focuses on the 1960s, examining each original band member, how they came together, and how their combustible chemistry produced some of the most memorable songs of all time.
From Scruffy Blues Fans to Edgy Bad Boys
On the face of it, the Stones were unlikely stars when they first emerged. Deeply immersed in American blues and R'n'B, they were scruffy and unruly, in contrast to the clean-cut image of The Beatles and other pop stars of the early 1960s. At first, they were put in suits and told to smarten up.
Then their manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, had a brainwave. If they couldn't compete with the besuited stars of the Merseybeat scene on their terms, they had to do something different. He reimagined them as edgy bad boys, with long hair and mismatched clothing.
Satisfaction and Songwriting Success
But it wasn't just an image change that captured the record-buying public's imagination. They'd had some early success, but it was when they started writing their own songs instead of playing cover versions that they made their mark. The release of Satisfaction in 1965 confirmed their ability to write memorable, incredibly catchy rock songs, but reiterated their bad boy, edgy reputation too.
Hit singles and albums followed, forming an incredible body of work in the 1960s which saw an evolution. In the space of a few years, they'd gone from covering Beatles songs to being their biggest rivals for the unofficial title of best band in the world.
Jagger's Words Prove Wrong
In 1975, Mick Jagger said in an interview with People magazine, "I'd rather be dead than sing Satisfaction when I'm 45." More than 50 years later, and more than 60 years after they released (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Jagger is still singing that emblematic, brilliant song well into his 80s.
The series looks at the band's development through the decade, their highs and lows as a band and as individuals, and takes a closer look at each major album they released in the 1960s, finishing with a look back at their 1960s legacy. Copies can be ordered online.
