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Sunday, January 19, 2003
Last modified at 12:15 a.m. on Sunday, January 19, 2003
� 2003 - The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
By TED DUNNAM
A-J Sports Editor
Ron Wood joined The Rolling Stones in 1975. Myself, shortly thereafter.
Him officially. Me unofficially.
Through the past 27 years of fandom that included the early obsessive ones to those currently in remission, I can inform you of one certainty:
There is no such thing as a Rolling Stones expert. Indisputable fact.
Simply put, there's too much volume on these blokes and it keeps amassing. Plus, there are days, nights and weeks that, most notably, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood and Bill Wyman don't recall because of overindulgence in any number of extra-curricular activities.
Too much undocumented frivolity.
I will, however, claim to be an authority on rock's most resilient bad boys. The first time I first-handedly absorbed any semblance of the Stones was in 1979 at The Summit (now the Compaq Center) in Houston when Wood's New Barbarians took the stage.
Since then, I've caught the Stones in a handful of other concerts.
Back to the authority thing. For beginners, a 22 eight-track Stones collection is a ringing endorsement, an antiquated set not acquired in one fell swoop at a fire sale, either. I bought them individually. Then rebought them on cassettes. Then rebought them on CDs. And there's the vinyl preceding all that.
Or maybe in Zagreb, Croatia. But you better hurry for those overseas tickets � Zagreb sold out all 76,800 of its seats for the Stones' 1997 Bridges to Babylon Tour.
Although they keep defying their naysayers, you never know how long the Stones will be around.
Keith? Forever, possibly. He has the life span of a Galapagos tortoise and the skin to match. On everyone else the clock is ticking. Houston could be the last Texas stop for good.
Who knows? The survivors of the unfittest keep rolling along.
What follows is a Q&A version of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to The Rolling Stones." It's not the whole ball of wax, but it's a good start.
Q: I want to be a Stones fan. What album should I buy first � there are too darn many.
A: The new "40 Licks" is somewhat representative of their work, but certainly not definitive as the CD claims. No compilation is, except the expensive boxed set. I'd probably begin with "Hot Rocks, 1964-71." It's a good sampling of what the Stones are about. "Licks" is fine, though.
Q: What next?
A: I'd recommend "Sticky Fingers", "Let It Bleed" and "Beggars Banquet." After that, you can just bounce around or go at it chronologically. Just don't make "Exile on Main Street" your first selection.
Q: So what's their best album?
A: "Exile" as a matter of fact.
At one time or another, it's been selected the greatest rock 'n' rol album ever recorded by any number of publications. I'd say it's the best album ever recorded by a rock 'n' rol band.
The diversity is overwhelming � blues, hard rock, soft rock, gospel, ballads, reggae. Amazingly, of the 18 tracks on the double-LP, only one (Tumbling Dice) regularly gets any radio air time. Most people couldn't name another song on the album with the possible exception of "Happy".
However, you could ask six hard-core Stones fans what their favorite Stones album is and get six different answers. Ditto for the Beatles. I'd just look at the list accompanying this story. Just don't make "Exile" your first pick. It's an acquired taste, and you'll appreciate it much more after listening to the others.
Q: Which is better, the Brian Jones era (1962-68), the Mick Taylor era (1969-74) or the Ron Wood era (1975-present)?
A: Mick Taylor gets the vote here. But they all have their strong points. For Jones, try "Aftermath" and "Beggars Banquet" for bluesier tastes. For Wood, "Some Girls" and "Tattoo You." For Taylor, all of those during his tenure.
Q: What am I likely to hear in concert?
A: The Stones are playing three different sized venues � stadiums (50,000 capacity), arenas (15,000) and clubs (2,000). Each set is different.
So far, they've played 96 different songs. Each set list is 20-22 songs and about two hours, 15 minutes of music. In the stadium, you're likely to get a greatest hits show. In the other two venues, some of the more obscure stuff will sneak in.
Most are themed with a B-stage that features a three- or four-song set from a particular album.
No Doubt, Sheryl Crow, the White Stripes, the Strokes and the Pretenders have been some of the opening acts. Ryan Adams opens in Houston and Oklahoma City.
Q: Is Keith Richards dead or alive?
A: Please, bypass the jokes. They're old, stale and tiresome. Just like the tour jokes � Still Lifeless instead of Still Life, Social Security instead of No Security, Steel Wheelchairs instead of Steel Wheels. Those started 20-plus years ago. A lot of bands have met their maker since then.
Q: How did Brian Jones die?
A: "Death by misadventure" was the coroner's ruling. He drowned and may have had some help. Anyway, he'd been fired two months earlier and replaced by Mick Taylor. By the way, the drowning happened at Cotchford Farm, former home of Winnie The Pooh author of A.A. Milne and Jones' home at the time.
Q: Are the Stones still that popular?
A: Yes. Just this past year, they've been featured on the covers of Fortune, Rolling Stone, Mojo, Uncut, Maxim and other magazines as well as television's "60 Minutes," "The Caroline Rhea Show" and "The Simpsons." In the United States, they're huge. In Europe, monstrous.
Q: What would I like to hear in concert?
A: Ideally, it would be four 30-song sets, never the same song twice, on four separate nights.
More precisely, how about this: "Exile" and "Beggars Banquet" at the Texas Cafe; "Goats Head Soup" and "It's Only Rock N Roll" at the Red Door; "Sticky Fingers" and "Some Girls" at the West Texas Canyon Amphitheater.
Then throw in these assorted singles: "Hand of Fate" "Miss Amanda Jones" "We Love You" "Child of the Moon" "Lady Jane" and 20 other songs for another concert the United Spirit Arena.
Q: What are their most underrated albums?
A: "Goats Head Soup" and "It's Only Rock N Roll."
Q: Do the Stones have a great live album?
A: Not really. "Get Yer Ya-Yas Out" is fine, but too short. A good bootleg is "Get Your Leeds Lungs Out."
Q: Are the Stones capable of producing great rockers like "Jumpin' Jack Flash" anymore?
A: Not sure. Their priorities have changed. They're more concerned about what they want to record instead of what the public wants to hear. I think they just want to make good music, and if rock 'n' rol evolves, so be it.
Q: Are the Stones really "The World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band?"
A: I'm biased. Ask Paul McCartney. Anyway, comparing the Beatles to the Stones is comparing apples to oranges. If you've listened to both extensively, you know that. It's like asking who's better between Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley.
Q: What's the best thing about the Stones on the current tour?
A: They're playing "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" � an 11-minute version � for the first time ever. A 10-minute version of "Midnight Rambler" has also been offered. Other highs: Lisa Fischer's backing vocals, Bobby Keys on sax. Also, rehabbed Ron Wood is sober and playing better than ever.
Q: What's the largest venue the Stones will play?
A: LaTenska Plan in Prague, Czech Republic � capacity 200,000 � on July 27. Other large European venues � Hockenheim, Germany (90,000); Stadi Olympic Montjuic, Barcelona, Spain (90,000); Slane Castle, Ireland (80,000).
Q: What two movies this past year were named after Stones' songs?
A: "Moonlight Mile" and "Brown Sugar" � coincidentally, off the same album. Also, Jagger's production company, Jagged Pictures, produced "Enigma" and he starred as the owner of an escort service in "The Man From Elysian Fields."
Q: Mick Jagger received a knighthood?
A: Yep, at the suggestion of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose favorite group is the Stones. However, don't hold your breath on there being a Sir Keith anytime in the next millennium.
Q: With the success of "The Osbournes" show, any chance we'll see The Richardses in the future?
A: If you thought Ozzy's English was impossible to interpret ...
Q: So how long will the Stones keep playing?
A: Don't know, but I'm guessing 50th anniversary tickets ain't gonna be cheap.
[email protected] 766-8735
When the boys roll into Houston Saturday as part of their worldwide Licks Tour, it will continue a 40th anniversary celebration that extends well into 2003.
The show at Reliant Stadium is the only stadium concert planned on their North American winter tour. Three nights later, they're in Oklahoma City.
However, if you miss both those shows, you can catch them in India and China for the first time ever later this year.
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Studio Stones: first to worst
� 1. Exile On Main Street
� 2. Sticky Fingers
� 3. Let It Bleed
� 4. Beggars Banquet
� 5. Some Girls
� 6. Goats Head Soup
� 7. It's Only Rock N Roll
� 8. Aftermath
� 9. Tattoo You
� 10. Between The Buttons
� 11. Steel Wheels
� 12. Voodoo Lounge
� 13. Black and Blue
� 14. December's Children
� 15. Their Satanic Majesties Request
� 16. Out Of Our Heads
� 17. 12x5
� 18. England's Newest Hitmakers
� 19. Undercover
� 20. Bridges to Babylon
� 21. The Rolling Stones Now!
� 22. Emotional Rescue
� 23. Dirty Work
Most precious Stones
11. Darryl Jones: Bill Wyman's replacement in 1994. Played bass for Miles Davis in the mid- to late-80s before being hired for the same job by Sting. Handpicked by Charlie Watts.
10. Nicky Hopkins: One of the most talented rock 'n' roll session keyboardists ever. A hired gun for the Kinks, the Who, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, The Beatles and The Stones, who used his services for more than 20 years. Shared spotlight in the group with Chuck Leavell (Allman Brothers), Billy Preston and Ian Stewart. Deceased.
9. Bobby Keys: Versatile saxophone player from Lubbock, a Stones fixture for 30 years. Exemplary work on Sticky Fingers and Exile. Actually played with Buddy Holly at age 15.
8. Ronnie Wood: Lead guitarist for the Faces, bassist for the Jeff Beck Group, mediator for Jagger/Richards, lead/slide/rhythm guitarist for the Stones. Having gone through a successful alcohol rehab in the past year, Wood is getting rave reviews for his solo work on "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" and lap slide on "No Expectations" on the current tour.
7. Ian Stewart: A Stones' founding member, solid session keyboardist, travel organizer. Richards says the Stones are Stu's group. Deceased.
6. Bill Wyman: Stoic bassist that helped form one of rock's premier rhythm sections. More famous for sexual conquests and marrying 19-year-old Mandy Smith at age 54. Owner of Sticky Fingers restaurant in London, currently fronts Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings and just recently released the hardcover "Rolling With The Stones."
5. Brian Jones: Multi-talented co-founder, lead guitarist. Died in swimming pool in 1969 shortly after being fired from the Stones. Very gifted � played every reed instrument � but delved too much in drugs, was unreliable post-1966.
4. Mick Taylor: Arguably the most gifted of the Stones' guitarists. A recruit of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Taylor made his Stones debut at age 20 at the free Hyde Park Concert just days after Jones' death. All of the Stones' albums featuring Taylor are classics. Richards remains baffled why Taylor ever left the band.
3. Charlie Watts: Though not flashy, Watts has often been voted rock's best drummer by critics, fans and co-horts, and is certainly more versatile than any. A jazz-influenced background progressed into blues drumming, then to rock. He also performs with the London Symphony Orchestra and fronts his own jazz group. Like Wood, a steadying influence on the group, but in a totally serene manner.
2. Keith Richards: One half of the Glimmer Twins, rhythm guitarist, king of the riff. Bruce Springsteen's Nils Lofgren says Richards is the best rock and roll songwriter ever and penned a tune � "Keith Don't Go" � alluding to that assertion. Richards disdains the virtuosity of extended solos, but rather relies on powerful, gripping intros and the legendary riffs that have made him his own guitar god.
1. Mick Jagger: The other half of one of rock's two best writing teams (guess the other). The premier frontman in all of rock. Aliases: Jumping Jack Flash, Lucifer. A very good, underappreciated acoustic guitarist, according to Richards, who says Jagger is unmatched on the harmonica and overrated on being the Stones' business manager. What makes him the band's MVP is one undeniable fact: He sings 95 percent of the group's songs. If Keith could sing a tad better, he'd be here. |
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| Prodigal Son |
Yeah, pretty cool article. As for your listings, I'd say, in order of first to worst:
1. Exile
2. Beggar's Banquet
3. Sticky Fingers
4. Let it Bleed
5. Some Girls
6. Aftermath
7. Between the Buttons
8. The Rolling Stones Now!
9. Tattoo You
10. Black & Blue
11. Out of Their Heads
12. The Rolling Stones
13. 12 X 5
14. It's Only Rock n' Roll
15. Goat's Head Soup
16. Voodoo Lounge
17. December's Children
18. Steel Wheels
19. Undercover
20. TSMR
21. Emotional Rescue
22. Bridges to Babylon
23. Dirty Work
24. Metamorphisis |
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| Sir Stonesalot |
Well, thanks to the "expert" who wrote that article. It's nice to see some of the faithful trying to convert some folks.
HOWEVER!
He's got some stuff wrong though....
The dude claims that the Stones have done 96 different songs? Wha? By my count it's holding steady at 66. So where were those other 30 played? What were they?
Since when have the Stones ever done 4 songs on the B stage? Not on this tour. And when was the B stage culled from a single album?
And what's up with "Ron Wood's New Barbarians"? Since when was that Woody's band?
You'd think that someone who is trying to come off as an "afficianado" would check their facts before publishing.
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| Maxlugar |
Yeah and can someone point out the Reggae tune on Exile for me?
Must be using the term rather loosely.
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| Sir Stonesalot |
Right on Maxy...
There is nothing on Exile that is even remotely reggae.
Methinks this guy is a bit of a posuer. |
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| Maxlugar |
Yes, a bit.
But his heart is certainly in the right place.
I wonder if he posts here.
You would think someone claiming to be into the Stones enough to write an idiots guide to them would wind up here.
Developing...... |
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| moy |
quote:
Sir Stonesalot wrote:
And what's up with "Ron Wood's New Barbarians"? Since when was that Woody's band?
i agree in all your points but this, the new barbarians was woody's band to support woody's album "gimme some neck", he planned to tour as "ronnie wood" only but since keith was in the band they decided to invent a name for the band and it was "the new barbarians", the ronnie wood's band |
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