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moy |
March 04, 2005
Hit & myth
Bob Stanley
FROM Jumpin’ Jack Flash to Wild Horses, the Rolling Stones were in their elegantly wasted pomp between 1968 and 1971. But Mick’s eyeliner and Keef’s waistcoats were anathema to one Stone who eschewed drugs, still wore his Lacoste and jeans throughout the Hyde Park and Altamont years, and wouldn’t give up his quiff for the world. Ian Stewart was a founder member of the band who stayed with them until his death in 1985.
He never appeared in photos and played piano offstage in concerts but, according to Keith Richards: “Stu is numero uno. The Rolling Stones is Ian Stewart’s band.”
First in and first out, he was sidelined by the Stones’ manager, Andrew Oldham, in 1963 because six band members was one too many: “The British public can’t count beyond five,” he joked.
Truthfully, Stewart looked out of place. He had a big square jaw, the result of contracting measles at the age of 8. Scary-sounding surgery at 18 made it more normal looking, but then Stu simply looked the part of a shipping clerk, his day job when the band started.
He took Oldham’s opinion with good grace, becoming road manager and playing piano on most Stones sessions. Out of the spotlight, he could freely indulge his manly love of steam trains (regularly going trainspotting with Brian Jones), ale and golf.
“I used to curse him,” Richards remembers. “We’d be playing in some town and there would be all these chicks who’d want to get laid. But Stu would have booked us into a hotel ten miles out of town. You’d wake up in the morning and see Stu on the golf course. We’re bored stiff, looking for some action and Stu is out playing Gleneagles.” |
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BILL PERKS |
WHAT WOULD STU MAKE OF THE POST 89 STONES AS A SINGULARLY CORPORATE ENTITY? |
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icydanger |
post-solo |
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