When Keith Richards says you're overdoing it on the drugs, you're REALLY overdoing it on the drugs.

Charlie Watts on Brian Jones: "Sorry for what we did to him...we took his one thing away, which was being in a band"

In Bill Wymans book, Stone alone, he writes in depth about Brian and his relationship with the rest of the stones. Its very inciteful and worth a read .

The most beautiful work Brian ever did was introducing and playing the marimba on “Under My Thumb”

Charlie is one of those blokes that is quiet, but when he does say something you listen. 'Cos it's usually something wise.

Having been a child of the 50’s, and a total Stones fan in the 60’s, Brian was always my favourite Stone. His slide guitar on Little Red Rooster and Sitar on Paint it black were high points of my teen years. I was devastated when he died, a year or two before Hendrix and Joplin. God, we have lost so much talent over the years...

Brian was such a creative force when it came to adding texture to the music. I think I prefer the Mick Taylor years, since I love his brilliant guitar work, but Brian did bring something to that band that they’ve never been able to replace.

Over the years, I've found Watts to be the most credible.

In the early 60`s it was the influence of Brian Jones that raised the Stones head and shoulders above the hundreds of other Rhythm & Blues bands around at the time.

Charlie gives probably the most honest opinion about Brian Jones and his character.

I think Brian added a musical dimension to the band that none of the other replacements did to quite the same extent. Also he had a hip glamor and style to match Mick And Keith.The string lines on 2000 light years make it happen for me!

I loved Brian but if you are in a band and people count on you, you gotta be there

My girlfriend, in 1989 got the job of a lifetime, one year as the live-in kindergarten teacher for Jagger and Jerry Hall's two youngest children. She lived and travelled with the family spending time in Mustique, New York, Paris, London and Bali, where she was maid of honour for Mick and Jerry's faux wedding. I, as a consequence, had the good fortune to meet Jagger, Richards and Woods on a couple of occasions. These were brief, friendly exchanges, not opportunities to observe anything of any substance. I did have occasion to have a beer with both Richards and Woods in 1991 in the very small bar of the Halcyon Hotel in London where we all were coincidentally staying. They were there to attend Bill Wyman's marriage to Mandy Smith. I was there on business. My girlfriend signed, and has honoured, an iron clad non disclosure agreement that all employees of the Stones/Jagger sign. While she said Jerry had a tendency to let little tidbits slip when the two of them would drink champagne together every couple of weeks, her firsthand experience did little to enhance her knowledge of the inner workings of a typically remote Jagger who engaged with her only to get twice monthly updates on the kids' progress with their lessons. In fact her takeaway, after actually living with Jagger and family was, he was the consummate manager of both his and the Stones' legacy and mythology. Support staff were kept at arm's length at all times and most were terminated after a year precisely so they couldn't get to know intimate details; details that could be shared with a hungry press. The point being, nobody here, unless they too have actually worked with the Stones, knows much more about the band than what Mick Jagger and, latterly Keith with Life, would have you know. Clearly there are corroborated stories from early days, press reports and so on. There are events that couldn't be kept secret but, by and large, most of what is taken as truth by the most loyal and diligent fans, is based on anecdotal evidence not fact. While many here have done their homework and are intelligent enough to connect a multitude of dots to arrive at plausible explanations and conclusions with respect to the band's history and relationships within the band, it still amounts to nothing more than conjecture. So for all the name calling, record collections and friend of a friend accounts, nobody knows exactly why Brian Jones was found floating face down in his swimming pool. Nobody knows for certain the real impact Keith's addiction had on the band, why it was tolerated or just how close it came to causing the band's demise. Given most of us have enough trouble sorting fact from fiction with regard to our own lives and careers, it is preposterous that anybody who was not there, who was not a party to the creation and crafting of the romantic myth that is the Rolling Stones, would suggest otherwise. Furthermore, the longer ago something happened, the vaguer the truth of the matter gets and the more susceptible it becomes to personal interpretations. So how about easing up on the name calling and pretence to knowledge and simply enjoy the different thoughts, feelings and ideas that loyal and knowledgeable fans are bringing to this discussion.

R.I.P. Brian Jones. Gone but will never be forgotten by Stones fans.

Jones was probably the most versatile musically of the stones . Taylor was hands down the best guitarist ever for the stones .

"... He was a very talented guy, and I don't regret a day working with him and meeting him and putting the Stones together with him. I wouldn't have missed that for anything... Brian deserves credit for his drive in putting the band together and putting it on a solid footing. If the band had remained what our limited horizons for it were, which was a hip London club band, it would have been fine. But he pushed us to be more." - Keith Richards, Boston Globe, 1989

I love early Stones, Brian was the blues influence and I love that.

Brian Jones definitely deserves some sympathy everyone has their problems

Brian was good at the beginning, no doubt about it.he handle all of the business for the early day's of the Stones.and he played well. RIP Brian ☀️

Brian started the group & his contribution to their early records cannot be overstated. I only ever saw them live after Brian had gone, but it has become apparent over the years that Mick Taylor’s playing drove them to a live performance peak they never really reached again.

My era, I remember him like it was yesterday. He was one of the bad-boys at the time, his image anyways. So talented to say the least, creative too. When he died it was really big news, especially with the kids who knew him so well. RIP.

Everyone forgets Ian Stewart. There wouldn't have been a band in the first place without him.

"Mick Jagger and Keith Richards didn't create the Rolling Stones - they were part of The Rolling Stones like all of us," he said. "Brian Jones wanted to form a blues band and he enlisted each member one by one". Bill Wyman. It was his band after all. Brian (with Stu) was the architect and deserves more respect.

My fav Stones stuff was when Brian was in the band.

No Expectations is one of Brian's most beautiful melodies.Always feel sad after listening to it. RIP Brian. You are the Rolling Stones.

Peace and Love Brian - RIP ~

Brians brilliance is unrecognized here. Brian brought The Satanic Majesty! The Psychedelia! and great chops

“I’m sorry for what we did to him then. We took his one thing away...which was being in a band” - Charlie Watts

No matter how you shape it, it’s sad that such a talent was lost at such a young age and it’s sad that a life ended so young.

The heart and soul of The Rolling Stones. Hope you are finally at peace, Brian.

Nonetheless, he was incredibly talented.

I would love it if Bill Wyman wrote a book about his former band mate Brian. Since he’s the only Stone who says consistent nice things about Brian and his contributions to the group.

I've heard the opinions on Brian's dismissal and death and that Mick and Keith were 'jealous' as if that makes any sense. Or even the crazy idea that they plotted his death. The fact is he had already left the band long before he was asked to give his voluntary resignation. He was in a downward spiral for 2 years and became a weight and a distraction. There's no doubt they were mean to him, especially Keith taking his girl but even that decision seemed to be justifiable as Brian was reckless, violent and destructive, and to Anita in particular. It's well acknowledged that Brian was talented and made the Stones a better band, when he decided he wanted to contribute. However he was not the only thing that made the Stones great. Not everything is simple, black and white. No one in the Stones as far as I can tell dismisses Brian as an artist or a person. They just did what they felt they had to do in the circumstances given. It should also be known that after Brian's leaving the band he would still come by to rehearsals and talk about his ongoing projects. Nobody shunned him. They were on friendly terms. Regardless of Brian being murdered, which he likely was, whenever questions arise about him, the remaining Stones all are forced into the hot seat of accusal and asked to question their moral integrity about anything they might have done to contribute to Brian's death. Obviously Mick and especially Keith struggle with this fèeling to some degree. Keith seems to resent being forced to answer the question and wants to distance himself from having to explain past decisions which were loaded with circumstance. Keith knows, as do many people, that ultimately Brian was his own responsibility. The problems they had with Brian were created by Brian himself.

Without Brian their would be no Rolling Stones! I hope Mick and Keith know this.

Even so, the Stones were more interesting with him than without him. He was key to their most interesting singles.

The early years with Brian produced some phenomenal ground breaking music. He was the one who inspired the music and led the way with his creative genius. In many ways he opened the minds of the other members and they took off running with it. They became good at it without him. The Stones no longer needed him and did not want to be dragged down by his numerous problems. Sad but he brought it on himself. Step in Mick Taylor - perfect!

Sounds like a very similar story to Syd Barret from Pink Floyd.

Still. Nothing compares to the early stones stuff. Just not the same without Brian....

nobody's perfect and Brian of course he wasn't, but he was an Amazing musicians,sensible,creative, dinamic and we still remember him this way ❤️

-Every word Keith speaks about Brian, actually befits himself!

no one mentioned that Brian Jones hired all the other band members, he found the rolling stones

I think Brian was the most musically gifted of the Stones, but he was broken before the Stones story began.

Love the Stones. They've successfully produced so much varied music. Unbelievable catalog.

"Fame doesn't sit comfortably on anyone's shoulders" I think that is probably very true. I once read an interview with MIck in which he said that Brian's guitar playing in "No expectations" was the very last time when Brian was totally involved with the band. I think the Stones couldn't have been as successful as they were in the 60s without Brian, and they probably couldn't have survived the 70s with Brian.

Very sad. An outstanding musician. He could play all kind of instruments.

Fact. Brian Jones formed & named the band. All band members were recruited by him from HIS advert..He booked the gigs & picked the music. He was the driving force. As Bill Wyman said in an interview" people now have no idea how secondary Mick & Keith were back then. Brian was the most popular by far." The Rolling Stones will ALWAYS be Brian Jones' band. End of. People can have their own opinions,but they can't have their own facts. No Jones, No Stones.

Almost 50 years now. WOW !!

Anyone else tear up when Keith said "everyone just looked at each other and said...finally." that was fucking heartbreaking.

No Satisfaction, No Rolling Stones! Thank you Mick and Keith for writing some of the greatest songs in Rock 'n Roll history and to all the rest of the Stones and contributing musicians from all their periods. Thank you Brian Jones for organizing the band, for getting these boys to play better and giving them a much better name than their previous group, Little Boy and the Blue Boys. Although Charlie Watts didn't like the name The Rolling Stones at first, thank you Charlie for being the classiest low key and coolest act in rock 'n roll history. Thank you Bill Wyman for being also being a great low key but tasty and fantastic groove Bass player. Thank you Mick taylor for your great virtuoso soloing, thank you Ron Wood for being a wacky and funny personality and also for putting up with being a very underrated guitar player by too many ignorant fans, for being the greatest Stones fan and keeping Mick, Keith and the band together. Thank you Bobby Keys, Ian Stewart and Nicky Hopkins, best back up musicians in rock 'n roll history! R.I.P all of you. Thank god for the Rolling Stones and that they still kick it up the arse across the world. Not a bad life for being 55 years together and defying the negative doubters since the very beginning!

What really bothers Mick and Keith was that Brian was the best pure musician in the band. He played everything and did it best.

Just the fact that they made an album as good as Beggars Banquet (arguably their best, and certainly one of their best) and then didn't tour it says a lot about how much Brian was holding them back.

George Harisson: ´´There was nothing wrong with Brian that a little love and respect wouldnt cure.´´ This man was abused on emotional and psychological level for years. Read book from Laura Jackson on Brian Jones. Its true and heart-breaking.

I remember that Brian died when I was in Nam. I heard it from a radio broadcast.

Bill Wyman's views on the subject are notable by their absence. I know he certainly has some valid points to make.

Without Brian Jones there would never have been the Rolling Stones !!!

Today is July 3rd 2019,- 50 years to the day since Brian died. But the legend still continues.

even if brian didnt go off the rails , I find it hard to imagine him on the 69 US tour , when the stones had become a guitar driven band . I cant imagine him at altamont , plucking away at the sitar

Those who have been given everything in this life can't find it in themselves to be kind to a deceased comrade. It is telling. All they do, seemingly, is seek to build themselves up by tearing him down. What are they compensating for?

It would have been interesting to hear Bill Wyman's contribution.

Brian Jones,Syd Barrett,Nick Drake,Peter Green,Paul Kossef-A remarkably strange English musical pedigree that continues to give good afterglow?:)God Bless Them All Now&Forever.

Pink Floyd had a similar issue with Syd Barrett, an original band member (arguably the talent) who suffered a mental illness that became more pronounced via drug use. barrett was possibly bipolar. Jones narcissism was perhaps clinical but both were in bands that were ambitious and striving for the peak, hence they were casualties. Mind you, both Jones and Barrett had a fan base and name recognition they could leverage to something else, that never happened. Dave Mustaine was fired from Metallica early on essentially for conflicts and drinking but was able to relaunch with Megadeth, hence the variable of mental illness.

One thing all of you didn't do,not baby him,but help him,I think everyone of you understand where I'm coming from,and if not,think about it,he loved all of you.

When Keith says you're up in the stratosphere, bro, your toast

The Stones wíth Brian sometimes were brilliant , without him sometimes very good.

They can't deny That Brian created the Stones. He also was able to play all kind of stuff. A completed musician.

The Mick Taylor years are the sweet spot of the Rolling Stones discography. There have been great albums on both sides of him, but those were the best, imo.

It's not talked about alot, but Brian kinda thought he was the boss, the manager. He often stayed in different hotels because he thought he was different.

Brian: you are The Rolling Stones!!!!

He was the band's one true genius

He was the best musician. Able to play many kind of instruments.

RIP Brian Jones. God I love the Stones!!

Mick Taylor years were the best in my opinion......but it's sad.....RIP Brian

Brian was an interesting cat, I wonder what he'd be doing today.

The Brian Jones years were the absolute best years for the Stones.

Never get to cocky because everybody can be replaced. No matter what business your in

Сколько лет его нет, столько лет его и помнят, он был талантлив и великий музыкант.

Wingnut conspiracy theories aside, I think the man of few words--Charlie--sums it up the best both times. Very sad. I've known people like Brian. None of them are here today.

Brian Jones should've been with the Beatles to add to their talent

RIP Charlie Watts💔

They don';t want to say how talented he really was, could play anything this fella. Super talented.

Brian was incredibly talented and added a lot of cool music to the Stones, but he was a mess by 68, you only have to watch the Rock and Roll Circus DVD, to see how far he was down. Barely scratching the guitar though he did play some nice slide on NO Expectations. Sad ending for Mr. Jones.

Charlie Watts Said it Best We Took Away the One Thing That Was Important to Brian, His Group Once that Happened the Downhill Spiral Really Began.

Just like most of the forever 27 club, he gave us some amazing songs that will keep him alive far after we are gone

My first Stones 45 was Paint it Black/ Under My Thumb , I wore out the single but I somehow held onto the picture sleeve. My first Stones album was Between the Buttons great music I miss all the great music made from the mid 60's to the mid 70's. Great era of music.

How sad is this? Keith, Mick & Charlie, obviously loved Brian. Just look at the pain in their faces at talking about him. Wonderful talent, all of them. Keith is still alive??? Take it to the limit, Keith. RIP Brian Jones.

In many ways Brian was the first rock and roll tragedy... Modern rock I mean.

That flute in "Ruby Tuesday" is Brian's witch work for the ages.

I remember the day the Stones came out in America.I was 13..For me it’s been a hell of a ride.Im 70 now...You will never see this kind of a period again it’s a 1 time deal.Beatle Stones etc.It was amazing for us kids at the time.We did some changing.

Brian Jones forever young R.I.P and God Bless .

You know, what this makes me think about, is how it is so different now than it was in the 60's, 70's, 80's, or even 90's. Now, a band would try to get someone help instead of just firing them for being very strung out on drugs or alcohol and becoming despondent or unable to function or depressed, etc. The same thing happened with Guns N' Roses and Steven Adler. Back then it wasn't really about trying to help the person it was just about moving on and getting someone else. It wasn't that they didn't care at all, but in a lot of ways, it is what Jagger said in this clip. He said, (not a flat-out quote here) ... it wasn't working, and we had to move on, but looking back, it seems like we could have done something or should have done something to try and help. Yes. They should have. Cause who was it? One of them said that they took the one thing away from him that he still had - which was the band and the music. It was the same way with Steven Adler. The worst thing that could happen to him when he was struggling with the addiction was to lose the one thing he had which was the band. I am a huge Stones and GNR fan, so I honestly do not mean any disrespect to them when I say this, and I know it is hard when you are in the middle of it all and you are actually drinking or doing drugs too and you don't understand why you can handle it and they can't. But it affects everyone differently. Not everyone can do drugs and live through it or come out of it and remain productive or not get depressed. Even Slash admitted that they didn't care about Steven's health back then and they just wanted to get on with the record. But it was a bad decision. Because there were too many changes happening at once I think and they didn't think about it in the long term. He was actually beginning to get better but going to rehab only one time for not a very long period of time, actually, doesn't usually do the trick when you are addicted to hard drugs like heroin and crack-cocaine, which Steven was. So, it is sad when this happened in groups in the past. I think they should have tried to get him help instead of just firing him, and the same goes for GNR. I do know GNR let him go to rehab and when he came back, they said he was on drugs and couldn't play. But Steven said he actually was not on drugs but was taking the Methadone treatments and it was making it extremely hard for him to concentrate. Basically, he just came back too soon. I think they should have given him drug tests and put that in the contract. Then if they saw he was only on methadone and he could have explained it was the methadone that was causing the problems, maybe they could have just hired someone else to record the album but let Steven come back. Anyway, it is just a shame that bands didn't try to get help for each other back then and really give each other a chance. I do think things are a lot different now. I mean, there is a difference between not giving a crap and being addicted and going through dependency issues that you need help with. Because then that member just gets worse. Because they lost the one thing they had and on top of that, they lost all those close friends they were in the band with. Your band is like your family. You spend a ton of time with them. So, you are also lonely on top of the fact you are fired and addicted to drugs. It's sad. But I love the Stones and GNR and I know that it isn't easy to make those decisions when you have to make them. And I think it is even harder when it comes down to the fact that everyone except for one person in the band is using too. You aren't thinking as clearly as you need to either.

He was beautiful! I never knew it. My other favorite band, Pink Floyd features a similar story. Casualties. I've outlived almost all my friends myself! God bless us all. The Stones just keep getting better. We should all be so lucky.

Sometimes the sweetest and most beautiful of flowers is also the most fragile.

Brain added a lot of flavor to early Stones tracks with his versatility. No mention of that here, just the drugs.

Excellent. Brian Jones was the heart and soul of the early Stones.

I always saw Brian Jones as the caterpillar to the butterfly the Stones became. No one remembers or reminisces about the caterpillar or gives it credit. All this caterpillar did was hire the band, chose its name, gave focus to, and provided his virtuoso talent and exquisite taste during the band’s youth. He was the parent who gave the band the childhood he dreamed of having but never did.

The early years with Brian were amazing, such a shame it didn't end well.

I love the early Stones era. Sad tale but great music. I guess they did this after Bill left the band. I hate the way he get excluded so much.

greatest bowl cut ever. r.i.p. great man.

Keith is far more insightful than you would guess by his reputation. He is a caring thoughtful man!

I watched the Stones dozens of times in 1963 and sure enough, once Brian wasn't there, they were never the same. A great band regurgitating the same old stuff. I listen to Bill Wyman's stuff with more enthusiasm now. He had the guts to leave and do something different.