42 Satisfying Facts About The Rolling Stones

March 12, 2020 | Sammy Tran

42 Satisfying Facts About The Rolling Stones


More than just the longest-serving rock band in history, the lives of the Rolling Stones are as fascinating as their music is catchy. Led by Keith Richards’ distinctive guitar sound and Mick Jagger’s inimitable strutting style, the Stones have been helping fans rock out for nearly 60 years, and have sold millions of albums in the process. Can’t get no satisfaction? Try these 42 hard-living facts about The Rolling Stones.


Rolling Stones Facts

42. Old Time Rock and Roll

The Rolling Stones played their first gig at London’s Marquee Club on July 12, 1962. That year, at the Seattle World’s Fair, Bell introduced their “Space-Age” cordless telephone.

The Rolling StonesMusic-calendar

41. Amply Qualified

The bassist for that first Stones show, Dick Taylor, soon left to form his own group. Jagger and the rest of the band auditioned several new bassists before settling on Bill Wyman. They later admitted to giving Wyman the job because he owned his own amplifier. Lucky break!

The Rolling StonesThe handsome collective

Advertisement

40. With a Little Help from Their Friends

Despite a perceived rivalry between the two groups, the Beatles were early supporters of The Rolling Stones, helping them find a manager and writing the Stone’s first hit, “I Wanna Be Your Man.”

The Rolling StonesBrainfall

39. Graphic Materials

Before joining the group, drummer Charlie Watts worked as a graphic designer. He has designed many of the band’s album covers, concert posters, and stage sets.

The Rolling Stones

38. Stu

Early on, The Rolling Stones had a piano player by the name of Ian “Stu” Stewart. Their manager, Andrew Loog-Oldham, felt that Stewart didn’t “fit the image” of the band, and Stewart graciously stepped aside, becoming the band’s road manager. The band continued to include him in recording sessions until his death in 1985.

The Rolling StonesINC

Advertisement

37. The Sixth Stone

Stewart was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the rest of the band in 1989.

The Rolling StonesElquintobeatle

36. Waiting on a Friend

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards first met when they were five-year-olds; they were in primary school together until Jagger moved away in 1950. A chance meeting on a train platform 10 years later revealed the two had much in common, especially a love of the blues and Chuck Berry. Before long, the two were jamming with other local blues musicians.

The Rolling StonesRazymama

35. Jagger-Richards

That chance meeting on the train platform kicked off not only a legendary band but one of the most fruitful song-writing partnerships in history. Together Jagger and Richards have written hundreds of songs, including fourteen of Rolling Stone magazine’s “500 Songs of All Time.” Jagger and Richards were inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 1993.

The Rolling StonesSong hall

Advertisement

34. And Don’t Come Out!

Jagger and Richards might not have written any songs at all had it not been for their manager, Andrew Loog-Oldham. They were running out of good songs to cover, he explained. When this failed to persuade the reluctant Jagger and Richards, Loog-Oldham locked them in a kitchen, refusing to let them out until they had penned an original. The result “Tell Me (You’re Coming Back)” appeared on The Rolling Stones’ self-titled first album.

The Rolling StonesVirginradio

Factinate

Sign up to our newsletter.

History’s most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Making distraction rewarding since 2017.

Thank you!
Error, please try again.

33. The Dynamic Duo

Two songs which appeared on The Rolling Stones’ debut album were credited to Nanker/Phelge. This was a pseudonym used for songs written by all members of the band. Bill Wyman claims “Paint it Black” was meant to be a “Nanker/Phelge” song that was accidentally attributed to Jagger/Richards.

The Rolling Stones

32. Undercover

In addition to writing most of The Rolling Stones’ songs, Jagger and Richards have also produced most of the Stones albums since the 1970s, under the pseudonym “The Glimmer Twins.”

The Rolling StonesDonniegreenart

Advertisement

31. Standing Room Only

All these years later, the Stones are still packing them in. Their 2006 concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro drew 1.5 million viewers, either in attendance or through online streaming, making it the most watched concert in history.

The Rolling StonesFlickr

30. Who Breaks a Butterfly on a Wheel?

In 1967, both Richards and Jagger were arrested for separate drug-related offenses, facing up to a year in prison. Their arrests caused an outcry in the rock community, and even the stodgy Times, a London newspaper, accused the police of persecution in the curiously titled editorial, “Who Breaks a Butterfly on a Wheel?” The quote actually comes from 18th-century poet Alexander Pope and alludes to a form of torture being used as punishment, implying a sort of overkill. Richards and Jagger were released.

The Rolling StonesCNN

29. To Coin A Phrase…

The Rolling Stones were positioned as a darker, more dangerous alternative to the Beatles throughout the 60s, and the band did their best to live up to the hype, engaging in all sorts of devious, hedonistic behavior. According to popular legend, Bill Wyman literally invented the term “groupie” while on tour in Australia in 1965.

The Rolling StonesHeart of gold fine art

Advertisement

28. Open Windows

In 1995, Windows paid $3 million to use the song in commercials for Windows 95. It was the first time the Stones had allowed their music to be used in an ad campaign.

The Rolling StonesOnmsft

27. It’s a Gas

The Rolling Stones’ most-played song is “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” which they’ve played over 1,100 times in concert. Bet it’s not such a gas anymore.

The Rolling StonesSvoundtrack - eCRATER

26. Satisfaction

“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was one of the band’s biggest hits. It spent four weeks atop the US charts and has been covered by nearly 100 artists. But The Rolling Stones almost never released the song…

The Rolling StonesYouthgrouptruth

Advertisement

25. The Vote

The band voted 3-2 whether or not to release the song as a single. The dissenting came from Jagger and Richards himself, who felt the song didn’t have enough commercial appeal. We assume this was just false modesty.

The Rolling StonesCharliehanavich

24. Smells Like…Tattoo You?

In 1981, The Rolling Stones embarked on an American tour to support their album Tattoo You. Sponsored by Jovan Perfume for a rumored $4 million, it was the first corporate-sponsored musical tour.
The Rolling Stones facts

23. A Wyman of Many Talents

Bassist Bill Wyman retired from the group in 1993. In his retirement, he has taken up a variety of hobbies, including metal detecting, writing, and photography, and he’s also toured with his own group, the Rhythm Kings.

The Rolling StonesAlgo Más Que Rock And Roll

Advertisement

22. The Sideman

Wyman’s role in the band has been filled by Daryl Jones, a session musician who had previously played with Sting, Madonna, and Miles Davis. While he is not considered a credited member of the band, he has played on all of their tours and recordings since 1993, and Richards himself has said: “Daryl doesn’t get enough recognition.”

The Rolling StonesLoudersound

21. Massive Failure

1997’s Bridges to Babylon is the only Rolling Stones album not to break the top five of UK music charts; it peaked at #6.

The Rolling StonesSagmeisterwalsh

20. Wise Guy

“Gimme Shelter” is a favorite song of filmmaker Martin Scorsese, and he has used it on soundtracks for his movies Goodfellas, Casino, and The Departed.

The Rolling StonesStyle insider

Advertisement

19. Fussy Fretwork

In addition to being a great songwriter, Keith Richards is considered one of the best rhythm guitarists in rock music history. To help him achieve his distinctive sound, Richards makes a peculiar alteration to his guitars. Where most guitars use six strings tuned E-A-D-G-B-E, Richards takes the lowest string off, playing on just five strings tuned G-D-G-B-D.

The Rolling StonesIndependent

18. Wagging Tongues

Andy Warhol designed the cover for the Stones’ album Sticky Fingers, and this has led many to assume he designed the Stones’ distinctive “Lips” logo. The logo was actually designed by artist John Pasche and was inspired by Kali, the Hindu goddess of creation.

The Rolling StonesArt stones photos

17. That’s Life

The Rolling Stones’ biggest hit of the ‘90s was actually performed by another band. “Bittersweet Symphony” by the Verve—which sampled an orchestral version of “The Last Time”—was nominated for a Grammy and spent three months on the charts. Jagger and Richards threatened to sue for 100%, and they were eventually added to the songwriting credits.

The Rolling StonesBoxcarsagainaslblog

Advertisement

16. Paint it Black

Since 1974, former Faces guitarist Ronnie Wood has handled the Stones’ lead guitar work. Wood is also a critically acclaimed painter, whose art has been sold at the San Francisco Art Exchange.

The Rolling StonesPinterest

15. Altamont

In 1969, The Rolling Stones headlined a free concert in Altamont. The concert ended in tragedy when security killed a young man named Meredith Hunter. Hunter was stabbed and collapsed while the band played “Under My Thumb” (there's an urban myth that the Stones were playing "Sympathy for the Devil" when Hunter was killed, but it's not the case). Seeing the attack from the stage, but not realizing someone had been killed, they stopped playing and started the song from the top. Some have called Altamont “the end of the hippie era.”

The Rolling StonesGiphy

14. Street Fighting Men

In an inexplicable move, the Hell’s Angels had been hired to work security for the show. Hunter, who was high on methamphetamines, had been pushed back from rushing the stage once and was preparing to do it again, this time with a pistol drawn, when Hells Angels member Alan Passaro saw the pistol, and went to wrestle it away from him while armed with a knife. Passaro was charged with murder but acquitted when the jury agreed that he had acted in self-defense.

The Rolling StonesN_TV

Advertisement

13. Brown Sugar

The Altamont concert marked the first time The Rolling Stones played their hit song “Brown Sugar” live—it had been recorded only two days earlier.

The Rolling StonesMorrison hotel gallery

12. Brian Jones

The Stones’ first lead guitarist, Brian Jones, was a talented multi-instrumentalist. He played the sitar on “Paint It Black,” the marimba on “Under My Thumb,” the organ on “Let’s Spend the Night Together” and many more. He also taught Jagger to play the harmonica.

The Rolling StonesHablatumusica

11. Snap Crackle Pop

Before becoming big stars, the Stones recorded a jingle for Rice Krispies in the UK. The television ad was unearthed in 2016.

The Rolling StonesYoutube

Advertisement

10. Jammin’

Called by some critics “the last great Rolling Stones song,” “Start Me Up” has kicked off many of the band’s concerts since it was released in 1981. The song might not have been so enduringly popular had the Stones stuck to the original plan and made “Start Me Up” a reggae song.

The Rolling StonesUltimateclassicrock

Onmsft

9. Traveling at the Speed of Sound

The Copacabana Beach concert was a sign that perhaps The Rolling Stones concerts were getting too big. The “venue” covered more than a mile of the beach—sound technicians had to delay the PA systems by one second for every 1,000 feet, to keep the speakers from clashing and feeding back.

The Rolling StonesMovieplayer

Advertisement

8. Can’t Beat the Beatles

Despite their longevity and massive success, The Rolling Stones are still only the fourth best-selling group of all-time. They sit behind ABBA, Queen, and, of course, The Beatles.

The Rolling Stones factsWallpaper cave

7. Piece of Cake

Richards claims to have written the distinctive guitar riff for “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” in his sleep! He said that he heard the three notes in a dream, and woke up to record himself humming it so he could use it in the future. What have your dreams done for you lately?

The Rolling StonesWallpapers craft

6. Old Faithful

Bandmates confirm that Charlie Watts, who has been married to his wife, Shirley, since before joining the Stones in 1963, has always refused the advances of Stones groupies. On a 1975 visit to the Playboy Mansion, Watts spent the whole time in Hef’s games room.

The Rolling Stones

Advertisement

5. Sharp Dressed Man

While he is not the most flamboyant of The Rolling Stones, Watts is considered one of the best-dressed men in music. Once, when an intoxicated Jagger called his hotel room, ordering “[his] drummer” to come out, Watts got out of bed, shaved, polished his shoes, put on a suit and marched down to the hotel lobby, where he punched Jagger square in the mouth before going back to bed. In Richards’ autobiography Life, he claims that Watts yelled back "Don't ever call me your drummer again. You're my fucking singer!"

The Rolling StonesNoise11

4. The 27 Club

When you’re doing too many drugs to be in The Rolling Stones, you have a serious problem. The band kicked Jones out in 1969 and replaced him with Mick Taylor. Jones died of a drug overdose just a few weeks later, one of many rock stars who died at the age of 27.

The Rolling StonesWikimedia

3. Oh Bother

Brian Jones spent his last few weeks living at Cotchford Farm, a manor home in East Sussex that had been owned by AA Milne, author of Winnie-the-Pooh. It was there that he drowned in the swimming pool and died on July 3, 1969. While there was speculation and rumors that he was actually murdered, these have been written off by the police as just that.

The Rolling StonesJazzinphoto

Advertisement

2. Sad Songs

When recording “Gimme Shelter,” producer Jack Nitzsche decided the song needed a woman’s voice, so he called up session singer Merry Clayton. Clayton was in bed, heavily pregnant, but came down to do the session. As evidenced by the song itself, and the many isolated versions of her vocal track floating around the internet, she truly gave it her all and turned in an iconic performance. Exhausted by the session, Clayton returned home and suffered a miscarriage.

The Rolling StonesFasttrack

1. Getting Stoned

Throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s, the Stones kept among their entourage a cadre of highly-skilled drug-procurers. Notable among that group was “Acid King Dave” who got the Stones’ acid—obviously. It was later discovered that “Acid King Dave” was actually plant who, in a joint effort of the FBI and MI5, set up the Stones for a massive drug bust.

The Rolling StonesCharlesngo

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30


More from Factinate

Featured Article

My mom never told me how her best friend died. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery.

Dark Family Secrets

Dark Family Secrets Exposed

Nothing stays hidden forever—and these dark family secrets are proof that when the truth comes out, it can range from devastating to utterly chilling.
April 8, 2020 Samantha Henman

Featured Article

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.

Madame de Pompadour Facts

Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.
December 7, 2018 Kyle Climans

More from Factinate

Featured Article

I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life.

These People Got Genius Revenges

When someone really pushes our buttons, we'd like to think that we'd hold our head high and turn the other cheek, but revenge is so, so sweet.
April 22, 2020 Scott Mazza

Featured Article

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but few people know her even darker history.

Catherine of Aragon Facts

Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s First Wife

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but very few people know her even darker history.
June 7, 2018 Christine Tran



Dear reader,


Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? We’re always looking for your input! Please reach out to us to let us know what you’re interested in reading. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from “Life” to “Compact Cars and Trucks” to “A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius.” We’ll get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics you’re interested in. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your time!


Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? At Factinate, we’re dedicated to getting things right. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. We want our readers to trust us. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Please let us know if a fact we’ve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect it’s inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your help!


Warmest regards,



The Factinate team




Want to learn something new every day?

Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter.

Thank you!

Error, please try again.