ROCKS OFF

IAN STEWART

b. July 18, 1938 - d. December 12, 1985

 

WORDS FROM HIS FRIENDS AND RELATIVES

 

Coming soon: Words from fans, include yours! Click HERE

 

This album is dedicated to Ian Stewart, "Thanks Stu for 25 years of boogie-woogie"

The Rolling Stones - Dirty Work 1986.

"Now there won't be anyone to sneer at us and disapprove anymore"

Charlie Watts at the funeral. December 20, 1985.

dammit stu.....it just wasn't right, you know? you were so great, so important...we miss you. we listen to your music EVERY day!!

Kath owner The Charlie Watts Fan Club

"Why'd you have to leave us like that, you sod! I could think of a hundred other fuckers who should have gone instead of him! He wasn't even on my list!"

Keith Richards. New York City 1985

I cannot imagine the Rolling Stones without him, he was like an anchor, he was always there for them. I don't recall him ever saying unkind words about anybody in this world, though maybe there were times he should have, over those years. There are not many people around like that, not then, not now.  He was giving me a ride back to L.A. from the San Bernardino concert and the station wagon was packed full with all of the equipment. I mean we were both behind the steering wheel, and I am not a small person, not then, not now, and it was a very snug fit. It was great; I was 21, everything is great when you are 21. Unfortunately I had to bail out when I remembered my luggage was at a nearby hotel. When you are 21 you also have a certain amount of common sense. (I had come to town from being in Chicago for Stones shows the previous weekend). I couldn't risk losing my winter coat and luggage. He pulled over, just before getting on the freeway, and we just stood by the car, and talked for a while. He didn't want to leave me there but I told him I had become pretty adept at getting around unknown places since the first series of concerts I saw in late 1964. Times have changed, I don't know if I would be so lucky today. But in todays times, I would not be traveling like I did then.   Lot of old memories of that era I have not really thought about for a very long time.

Jeri Holloway

Everyone who  knew him will always remember him as the fine musician he was but he must never be forgotten forthe fine person he was.

Jeri Holloway AGAIN

The next time I met up with Stew was spring of 1965. I only saw him briefly in Chicago but did visit with him after the San Bernardino, California, show. A week or so later I met up with him again at the San Jose and Sacramento, California, shows. There was a lot of wait-around time then. He had a station wagon filled with all of the equipment for the show. He was usually at the auditorium long before the band. He did a lot of work, but did have a couple of fellas helping with those northern California shows. He was always easy to talk to, charming and patient.

Next Stones U.S. tour in winter of 1965 I saw him in Detroit. The band's popularity had grown so by then. I'd been interviewed on a television show in Ontario, Canada, and was asked if I had met them again. I said no, couldn't even get close. Stew saw the show though and by the time I got back to where I was staying in Detroit there was a message from him on who to call. It was great, backstage pass, stay at the hotel with the other bands on the show, ride to and from on their bus for the Detroit concert. Really nice. It was cold and wet and storming in Detroit, nice was wonderful.   I chose to never ask Stew for any favors regarding my seeing or talking with the Stones and in years through the last time I saw him in October 1981, it stayed that way. He was a very special person; I didn't want to risk doing damage to a casual but important friendship that spanned many years by asking for favors that were not near as important as not wanting to hurt somebody you cared a lot about.

It was ten years before I saw Stew again. Though I had moved to Hollywood, Calif., in 1968, and saw Stone concerts in early 70's, I didn't call him until 1975. It was terrific, being remembered after ten years, in the middle of the night at that (which is when I called). Got to visit with him a few times and a ride home from the concert. The one thing I never did with Stew is talk about the Stones, or ask questions about them. They might have occasionally been mentioned in conversation but rarely. I said once before and will again, he was a kind, gentle and extremely private individual. If he gave his word, you could depend on him. He treated me well, always. Hey, those early days, 15,000 miles on a bus all over the country, I had my flaky moments, but not many really. He treated me with kindness, decency, humor and respect.

All those years back, in retrospect, the best thing to come of them was meeting Ian Stewart.

The last time I saw Stew was in October 1981. I had moved back to Louisiana in 1976. I called him in Dallas and went there for two shows. Horrible storms the first show, outdoor show, unbelievable rain. I visited with him some, and though I managed to get to and from the first show, he arranged for my ride back from the second show, and for New Orleans too, though I wound up not going to that show.    It was funny, he was looking through some of the photos I had taken of him over the years and was struck by the fact he was wearing the same belt in all of them, one he obviously liked. When I look at the last photos I took of him, who would have   dreamed he would have an early death. It seemed that every five or ten years, there he'd be. Of all the people I have ever met, Stew was about the best. I am sure the people closest to him treasured him and miss him still. He is a wonderful memory, and it was an honor knowing him

Jeri Holloway ONCE MORE!

“Whatever Stu, or anybody else said, he did care about being relegated. He had enough to worry about because he was so painfully shy. But the bottom line for Andrew was that Stu’s face didn’t fit; Andrew loved the pretty, thin, long-haired boys. Stu felt bitter, not because he was not up there on stage, but about the savage way he was kicked to one side”

Cynthia Stewart (Stu’s widow)

“We often invited Stu to play piano on tracks, but if he didn’t like the music he wouldn’t do it. Cynthia tried to persuade to play occasionally. But if he did not admire a song, he could not be persuaded to go to the piano”

"Right my little shower of s--- - you're ON" - Stu's traditional last minute words of 'encouragement' to the Stones before going onstage,1962-1982

"who's gonna tell us off NOW?"-Charlie to Keith at Stu's funeral,Dec. 1985
"The glue that held us together" - Keith
Thanks Stu for 25 years of great boogie-woogie. Gone but not forgotten by real Stones fans worldwide.

Someone posted anonymously this at Rocks Off

It's just been recently that I've actually "discovered" Stu, I'd always liked that Piano that I'd always heard but it was all so invisible. Now it's all coming into focus...after so long. Thanks Stu. When my kid starts on the Piano I'll make sure she learns one of your tunes first and that's a promise! Stu was as much a Rolling Stone as any of "em.

Bob

 

Back to Main Page

Words from his friends and fans

Stu in the Studio

Stu on the Road

Anecdotes, biography and Photo Gallery

 

"WET" PAGE

MESSAGE BOARD

RESTROOMS

SETLISTS PAGE