The Rolling Stones: an iconic rock band for more than six decades

The Rolling Stones, founded in 1962, celebrated their sixtieth anniversary in 2022. It is hard to believe that these rockers formed their band sixty years ago! Their songs have stood the test of time, there is no doubt about that! Join us for a look at some lesser-known facts about this iconic band.

Keith Richards and Mick Jagger were born at the same hospital 145 days apart in 1943. They attended the same elementary school and met 17 years later on a train platform on October 25, 1960. This was the start of the Rolling Stones.

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are the wealthiest members of the iconic rock band. Both Jagger and Richards hold a fortune of 200 million dollars each. They owe their riches to the 23 studio albums produced by The Rolling Stones over 55 years and an average of 300 concerts per year.

The Hindu goddess Kali inspired the logo that represents The Rolling Stones. The goddess Kali symbolizes the emancipation and destruction of evil and is the goddess of eternal energy. The drawing of this mythical tongue is known as 'Hot Lips,' has become the emblem of rock'n'roll. It also became known as a symbol of 'Peace & Love' before the hippies in the 70s came up with their peace symbol. Designer John Pasche made this logo in 1970 for a modest sum of £ 50.

Mick Jagger wrote his 75,000-word autobiography in the 1980s. Publisher John Blake has had the manuscript in his possession for several years, but Mick has not yet permitted Blake to publish it. It is unclear when Jagger will allow the autobiography to be released, but long-time Rolling Stones fans will be running to buy it when he does.

Director Martin Scorsese is a huge fan of The Rolling Stones. He has regularly used songs from the band for his films' soundtracks, including 'The Departed,' 'Casino,' 'Mean Streets,' and 'Goodfellas.' The talented director's special interest in the Rolling Stones led him to film one of their 2008 concerts, 'Shine a Light.'

The band's name was inspired by the eponymous song by bluesman Muddy Waters, 'Rollin 'Stone.' The name transformed into The Rolling Stones upon the arrival of the band's manager Andrew Loog Oldham.

It was rumored that Mick Jagger maintained a romantic relationship with the ex-model and former first lady of France, Carla Bruni, from 1990 to 1992. However, Carla Bruni has always denied this romance. The ex-wife of Mick Jagger, Jerry Hall, has confirmed the rumors in Event Magazine. Hall was very distressed by Jagger's cheating, which took place while she was pregnant with her daughter Georgia May Jagger.

The leader of The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, is known for the massive amount of lovers he has had over the years. Some estimate that Jagger has had around 4,000 partners, including Madonna, Uma Thurman, Princess Margaret, Angelina Jolie, and even… David Bowie.

Jagger's ex-girlfriend auctioned off ten love letters written in 1969 by Mick Jagger for $273,000. And since it is important not to waste anything, a lock of hair cut by another of his ex-concubines, Chrissie Shrimpton, was sold for $ 5,400.

The song 'I Wanna Be Your Man' was composed and written for the Rolling Stones by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, members of their supposed competitor, The Beatles.

The American motorcycle gang Hells Angels attempted to assassinate Mick Jagger after the tragedy in Altamont in 1969. Meredith Hunter, a young black participant in the free festival organized by The Rolling Stones and the Hells Angels, was assassinated. Mick Jagger rejected any responsibility to the case, which angered the bikers. The FBI exposed the plot to kill Jagger, which did not succeed for unknown reasons.

The band's legendary track '(I can't get no) Satisfaction' was the result of a dream Keith Richards had in May 1965. He woke up in the middle of the night, grabbed his guitar, recorded the track, and went back to bed. The next day Keith had forgotten everything and discovered there was a new recording on his tape recorder “followed by 40 minutes of snoring”, he recounts in his biography 'Life.'

The famous French director Jean-Luc Godard filmed the creation of one of the Stones' most famous songs while the band was in the studio, 'Sympathy For The Devil.' The lyrics of this song, one of the greatest masterpieces of the Rolling Stones career, were inspired by Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov's novel 'The Master and Margarita.'

Anita Pallenberg, the mother of three of Keith Richards' children, was the mistress of three members of The Rolling Stones. First, she had an affair with Brian Jones, then Keith Richards, and finally Mick Jagger. Keith Richards admitted that the romance between his wife with Mick Jagger during the filming of the movie 'Performance' has forever tarnished the relationship between the two men.

Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones, who passed away at the precocious age of 27, gave birth to the group and its rock'n'roll soul. He was the wildest member of the band and consumed excessive amounts of mind-altering substances and alcohol. As a teenager, the 'bad boy' got a 14-year-old girl pregnant and was fired from one of his jobs due to stealing. Later, his break-up with the woman of his dreams Anita Pallenberg, who left him for Keith Richards, destroyed him.

In the 1980s Mick Jagger bought the French Castle of Fourchette for $397,897. The singer stayed there for the duration of the first pandemic confinement.

After years of debauchery linked to increased drug use, Mick Jagger has adopted a whole new way of life. The singer wants to stay young and now has an impeccable lifestyle. On the program: 13 km of running per day, gymnastics, smoothies galore, and avocados. All this combined with expensive rejuvenating caviar-based creams.

The group's drummer, Charlie Watts, was, above all, passionate about jazz. He produced several jazz albums with his other group, the Charlie Watts Quintet, throughout his career with the Rolling Stones. In August of 2021, the world said goodbye to the talented drummer.

'The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers' album cover was designed by Andy Warhol, a leading figure in the pop art movement, a big rock'n'roll fan, and friend of Mick Jagger.

During the filming of the concert film 'Gimme Shelter' in 1970, George Lucas, director of the 'Star Wars' saga, worked as the cameraman.

Keith Richards played the role of Johnny Depp's father, Captain Teague, in the third and fourth instalments of the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' saga. A suitable casting since Johnny Depp was inspired by Keith Richards for his role of pirate Jack Sparrow.

In 1964, the group composed a jingle to sell the merits of Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal. A not very rock'n'roll but very original approach. The music for the jingle is catchy and faithful to band's love for rock.

Mick Jagger turned down a tour with his band to start a solo career. But his four albums 'She's The Boss,' 'Primitive Cool,' 'Wandering Spirit' and 'Goddess in the Doorway' were shunned by the public. He nevertheless collaborated with Michael Jackson and David Bowie. Keith Richards held a terrible grudge against Mick Jagger and his artistic quirks, calling him "unbearable" in his book 'Life.'

Since 2002, the leader of the Rolling Stones group has held the title of Sir. Queen Elizabeth II gave him this distinction, and Prince Charles knighted the singer.