ROCKS OFF
b. July 18, 1938 - d.
December 12, 1985
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!! |
"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. |
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 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. |