A new biography of The Rolling Stones by author Bob Spitz reveals how Keith Richards composed the iconic riff for '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' in his sleep. The book, which offers a comprehensive history of the band, details how Richards woke up in a daze early one morning, picked up his guitar, and recorded the riff along with the mumbled lyrics 'I can't get no satisfaction' before collapsing back into sleep. He had no memory of the event the next day until he checked the recording.
The biography also covers the band's origins, including how they chose their name. In June 1962, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, and Dick Taylor needed a name for an advertisement in Jazz News. Jones spotted a Muddy Waters album on the floor and picked the first song on the back cover: 'Rollin' Stone Blues'. The name has stuck for over 65 years.
Spitz paints a vivid picture of Brian Jones, describing him as a 'handful right out of the crib'. Born on 28 February 1942, Jones was a prodigy who mastered chess, learned multiple instruments, and had a photographic memory, but struggled with attention and had a rebellious streak. His parents found him difficult, with his mother calling him 'strange' and his father unsure how to handle him.
Jones co-founded the Stones and gave them their name, but grew jealous of the bond between Jagger and Richards as the band moved away from blues to rock 'n' roll. He became increasingly unreliable due to drug and alcohol abuse and was dismissed in June 1969. Less than a month later, at age 27, he drowned in his swimming pool in East Sussex.
