Who was Brian Jones? | Vinyl Rewind Special 

I know we like our rock stars wild, but Brian is one of the stories where I always ended up really wishing they understood mental health better in 60s.

It is often forgotten that Brian was an early champion of Jimi Hendrix, and used his influence to ensure Jimi got a record contract. Jimi never forgot Brian's kindness, and when he fell on hard times Jimi made sure that Brian was put up in various hotels and rooms.

Brian obviously had musical training. His melodic contributions to the early Stones were immense. After he left Stones morphed into a guitar lick hook band. No better. No worse. Just different. The good they die young. At a concert in 66 I watched and listened as Brian Jones played the mountain dulcimer and gave "Lady Jane" a distinct English flair. I will always be a huge Brian Jones fan. RIP Brian.

I've always felt so sorry for Brian, his mental health was extremely fragile. A genius musician who doesn't get the credit he deserves. That mess with Anita ruined him.

Outstanding the best short documentary on Brian Jones I've seen. I'm a big Stone fan and an even bigger Jones fan. Keep doing this.

Excellent. Brian Jones is hands down one of the greatest musicians in rock music...RIP

I'll always love Paint it Black, that's probably my fav song that he was a part of

That was really well done and a great production. I love the vintage footage as well. Sad life for Brian Jones. A real tragedy for a gifted artist who gave the world a lot.

Gene Clark of The Birds said that Brian wrote " Eight Miles High " but Brian did not want any credit for writing the song.

Much love and respect for Brian Jones. My favorite contributions are the hauntingly beautiful slide on "No Expectations" and the dulcimer on "Lady Jane"..... He could literally play anything and somehow make it work in a rock/blues band

I really like how you do your videos. I’ve always been intrigued by Brian and no one has ever really done a video on who he was and you nailed it in this!

Thank you so much for this video! I feel that there is not much attention given to Brian Jones and his story. Jones is my favourite member of the band and honestly I never cared much for anything that The Rolling Stones did after his death ( but thats just me). Thank you for recommendations as well.

I keep focusing on those puffy, swollen eyes Brian always seemed to have from childhood onward. It was said that he was a strong man, and perhaps he was. But those eyes tell me that there was something else going on health wise in his system, long before he bombed himself with all the drugs and alky. Poor guy.....27 is just way too young to say adios to this life.

The coolest Stone! Period.

Brian was a lot like John Lennon a very special musician who took there band to a higher level

This is a very warm and much deserved tribute - well done.

He created The Stones..legend...sad departure:(

Brian Jones was the founder of The Rolling Stones. He came up with the name of the band.

Loved his recorder on Ruby Tuesday

Loved this video. I'm just getting into the Stones and learning about Brian Jones has really been enlightening. I hope you do more of these kinds of mini biography videos on other amazing artists. It would be interesting to see you do one on the members of the 27 club.

I think of "Under My Thumb" when I think of Brian. He was playing the marimba.

Absolutely. More of this stuff please!

I worked at Melody Maker then in Fleet St at IPC, the Stones came in for an interview, only one did not make it and that was Brian, this was 1963-4. There was always a sadness surrounding that great musician.

Thanks for this one. I was a huge Stones fan from day one mainly because of Brian. I was devastated upon his death and sort of drifted away from the Stones and became a (more of) Beatles fan. I have the movie Stoned plus read the book about his life and death. I never heard of the sound track but I will look for it. As much as I think I know about R & R you ALWAYS surprise me, I guess that's why I love your station. Keep shocking/informing me.

Off topic, but I still can't believe Al "Blind Owl" Wilson is so often left off of the 27 club..such a shame in my opinion.

Thank you for making this video many people forget about Brian.

Brian's contributions to the band were amazing. My favorite (if I had to choose one) is Lady Jane, a beautiful rock madrigal with Brian on dulcimer.

There isn't a Stones fan that doesn't go through a Brian Jones fascination - so much so Jagger/Richards try to downplay his contributions and place in the band, probably sullied by the awfulness of his last few years of his life.

Brian Jones was the original talent in the band that he started. Too bad the devil found his way into the details ...

You forgot Alan Wilson of Canned Heat died at 27 too

I don’t understand why you don’t have millions of subscribers

Interesting information, well narrated. I like this very much! And about Brian Jones . . . wonderful guy, I have always wondered which direction the Rolling Stones would have gone, if he was still with them . . .

Jones was the founder of the band… He was taking LSD… His personality changed… Become unreliable and hard to work with… He left the band in 1969 because of his drugs conditions… He was replaced with another guitarist *I'm getting Syd vibes here*

"In 1966, I witnessed, on numerous occasions, the remarkable spell Brian would cast while working in the recording studio. Mick and Keith would bring songs in, Brian would listen and effectively take charge, and everyone was in awe of him. He was a real perfectionist. While recording the recorder part in Ruby Tuesday he explained to me that he had to do it over again as he had been a quarter tone off tune."--Prince Stash Klossowski de Rola (artist and friend of the Stones) in Brian Jones: Butterfly in the Park.

Would love to see a video on Hendrix like this one

Loved his white Teardrop Vox, not practical but sure looked great.

As a lifelong Rolling Stones fan I found that fascinating. Thanks for sharing

This was Very interesting and Very well presented! Thanks so much for the time and effort you put into your presentations. 😊👍🏻

I have a saying: "No Jones, no Stones"

6:49 The girl in the last two pictures is Suki Poitier, not Anita Pallenberg.

he also said" Eric Burdon was the greatest lead singer in England -which did not sit well with Jagger-

Excellent insights. I'm going to watch more of your mature insights into the bands and artists of the 60s, 70s.

If I constantly turned up for work wasted I would get the boot, even if I set up the firm.

Wow..who ever knew he was in a band called the Roosters with Jack Bruce?!

This is a huge eye opener, all the comments are so intriguing, video very well researched ...is making me think some dark thoughts about glimmer twins. Well done, very thought provoking.

His marimba part on Under My Thumb is my favorite part of all Rolling Stones songs.

The Brian Jones era will always be the best for me. From the early blues and R&B covers to the experimentation of Satanic majesties I just feel that’s when they were at their best, with the exception of Let it Bleed and a couple of tracks on Sticky Fingers and Exile

I hope you'll release DVDs of these episodes

Amazing marimba on "Ride on, Baby."

Unkind people would say he was a druggie. People with ears that function will say he was a brilliant musician.

how does this guy not have more subscribers,hes perfect and goes into detail

Actually it was Jagger who was said that 'there are some people with whom fame doesn't sit well'. Keef said 'there are some people who you know are never going to see 30'

Kudi to Eric, Joe and Josh for an informative, well produced vid!

Great presentation and very eloquent. Thank you.

My fave Brian Jones song is "Paint It Black" (May 1966), produced by Oldham, although credited as being penned by Jagger and Richards, Jones certainly stood out with his famed droning Sitar riff.

Good job, we miss Brian until to date and will miss him forever. The day he deceased came as a great shock, I was just 15 at the time but I felt it deep in my (Stones) heart.

I’ve been a Stones fan most of my life and was absolutely obsessed with Brian when I was in my teens and twenties. There is not a single track in those early days that didn’t have his sound and soul on. If you take away what he did on those tunes they don’t stand out and would not have had the impact on the scene and the world that they have. I’m a musician and have had to deal with a lot of bullshit and egos as well as drug and alcohol abuse in band mates. As much as I love Brian it’s hard to criticize the rest of the band for wanting to continue working. They had a world tour planned and a member that was not dependable and could not get into countries because of his drug arrests. It sucks but it’s a business and some amazing music came out of the Stones with MT. I really would have loved to hear an album with a Jones/Hendrix collaboration.

Best book about the Stones is (imho) The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones by Stanley Booth. It's about the '69 US tour that culminated in the Altamont disaster, but Booth also goes to England to trace the roots of the band, visiting Jones's home town of Cheltenham and even speaking with his (bewildered) parents. Brilliant book.

I love to listen to "Paint it Black", because I always picture Brian Jones playing the sitar on that song. I cried when he passed and I will never believe it was an accident.

Very informative, thanks for the posting!!

Brian rolled the Stones, without him they just gathered moss

Always great to see new videos from you. I would like to see a video review of Beggars Banquet sometime in the future.

Thanks for this. He's an unsung hero of rock music.

Brian also traveled to Africa to record drums. This sound was used later on "Sympathy for the Devil".

Robert Johnson was the first inductee of the 27 club! Great video btw!

Competitor swimmer, no water in lungs in autopsy, management drive from london all the way to his estate burn his certain memorbilia belongings and recordings before calling police, Richards goes from the cheeky smiley one to ultimate badass overnight. Jones stood out was an eye grabber( can see in interviews and camera switching leaves little to no time on him in many of the promos possible because it takes away the focus off frontmen,) has his struggles, fed more drugs to excess,( including night of death) and then booted media made it to look like he quit. Love all stones eras tho.

A true Rock n Roll Legend forever .

I could swear I’ve always heard, in both documentaries and interviews, that jones in fact didn’t want them to write their own tunes. That he wanted to keep playing blues classics and putting their own spin on them. Granted, he also brought world music into the mix, so I may just be misremembering but I could swear I’ve heard it.

Anyone is a true Brian fan wouldn't be caught dead recommending Stoned. It is hated across the board. You got most of your facts right so this is on a par with most docs on Brian. I met him the first time in June 1964 in Detroit Michigan.

Great video, really enjoyed it.

Love this guy, great review, so thorough!

He was the Rolling Stones to me.

I think he played on sax on The Beatles "Baby you're a rich man" as well. I have heard a couple of compelling theories about him being murdered, not that it matters much now. Sad loss for the world of music. He was always my favorite Stine.

They did have the 'Nanker Phelge' song writing name that meant they had all written the song,it was named after a funny face Brian would pull with his nose pushed up and eyeball spread apart like the song 'Stoned',Off the Hook' but were much later credited to Jagger and Richards When the Stones cut "Stoned" - or "Stones", according to early misprinted pressings - as the B-side to "I Wanna Be Your Man", Brian [Jones] suggested crediting it to Nanker/Phelge. The entire band would share writing royalties. Phelge came from Edith Grove flatmate Jimmy Phelge, while a Nanker was a revolting face that band members, Brian in particular, would pull.

Great narration and very interesting video, keep up the great work.

My Favorite Brian Jones songs from the Stones are---PAINT IT BLACK--UNDER MY THUMB---RUBY TUESDAY----All classic songs----GET OFF OF MY CLOUD---ITS ALL OVER NOW--LAST TIME--Are also good songs

"Forming their sound," is musically everything. by Brian "Prince" Jones.

Thanks for putting that up, really informative

Hey Eric, great job! I've read a few books on the Stones early years. You and the viewers should seek out "Golden Stone" by Laura Jackson published in '92. Some nice insights there. But back to you - nice work.

That was Great. Direct to the point as well.

i am not a huge Stones fan, but from what ive heard it seems their early years with Brian is more experimental or "avant garde" and after he left they turned more into a Rock and Roll blues act, that by it self is not bad and i still like them and respect them as musicians, any real fans out there that can confirm?? i would love to hear more jams or experimental songs, i love the jam in "Can you hear me knocking"..

On Beggar's Banquet he played on only two tracks, they were Sympathy for the Devil and No Expectations.

You never forget those who have been a part of your life good times or bad times they are part of your history god bless

I would bet any amount of $ that he came up with the Satisfaction riff. It reeks of 3-4 note Brian riffs. Keith says he dreamt it. Yeah, a pipe dream.

he was my fave..

Brian was the leader and the most popular member of the band until 1966. From 1966 Mick has been the leader until now.

Played the "Bible slap" at the beginning of JH's "All along the watch tower". That's good to know.

There's no doubt in my mind once Anita Pallenberg left him for Keith Richards, that was the first and major impact that began the road to ruin for Brian Jones. Then the drug arrests and absence from rehearsals was another major problem for him. Then the rejection of acquiring a Visa to tour with the band was the final nail in the coffin.

The bootleg four disc set, "Satanic Sessions," gives ample evidence of Jones' work in the studio during the 1967 sessions for "Their Satanic Majesties Request." Contrary to legend that he was too fucked up on drugs to contribute more than a few overdubs to the album, his work on the mellotron (that amazing bizarre analog 'synthesizer') on nearly every track of the album is brilliant, particularly on "Citadel," "She's a Rainbow" (though Brian's beautiful melody that runs through each verse and spectacularly in each chorus, is virtually drowned out by JP Jones' strings arrangement of Brian's original work), and is a highlight of the more obscure closing number "On With The Show." And I haven't even mentioned his best known mellotron work -- that haunting extended theme/riff that makes "2000 Light Years from Home" a psychedelic masterpiece. Add to that his contributions on sitar, recorder and the harp, all more audible on these original session tapes than on the final release of the album (buried in the mix as a result of the limitations of four-track recording of the era), and you can hear for yourself how musically inventive the man was. It's a shame none of this material was used for the Klein-produced 50th anniversary 'deluxe' box set of TSMR.

*He created a band called The Rolling Stones (as well as naming them). Unfortunately the guitarist and singer became the STARS of the band and Brian was thrown out 'of his OWN BAND' to later be either killed or die from 'misadventure'.*

The 60s Stones were the best and I've liked all their songs from that era. Thank You for making this video man.

Brian Jones era will always be the real Rolling Stones for me. His involvement led to a uniqueness and personal style in their music which set them apart from the other bands that were around that period. You can really get a taste of his soul with every instrument he played. He will forever be an enigma to the musical world.

I saw the Stones twice in the 60's with Brian. He was the most talented and colorful figure in the band, no question. He inspired me to take up other instruments, and be able to contribute different sounds on certain songs, and his contributions to early Stones recordings show this. His downfall was his inability to handle fame, and sadly it led to self-abuse, & an untimely death.

Brian’s always been my favorite member of the Stones. He was easily the most musically talented and stylish of the group and he’s always been a big source of inspiration to me as a musician. Brian would’ve been 81 today. Happy heavenly birthday Brian, wherever you are!

And the rest of The Rolling Stones lived to 108 years of age.

Brian was my favorite in the stones he was multi talented truly the heart & soul. RIP Brian you will never be forgotten !

The Brian Jones era is my favorite time of the Stones music. The slightly poppy, British mod scene, pre psychedelic sound of She's A Rainbow, Under My Thumb, Complicated, Dandelion, the list goes on and on. Jones multi instruments was a hugely indispensible contributing factor.

Brian Jones formed, named, chose the musicians, got the gigs and was the leader of the Rolling Stones aside from being a multi-instrumentalist and co-writer of some of the best songs of the stones and was kicked out of the band, Richards even pulled a knife on him. Today the formation of the Rolling Stones is credited to Jagger and Richards on a plaque at a train station where Jagger and Richards first met. Bill Wymon even came out and said it was wrong of the city of London to have attributed the formation of the Stones to Jagger and Richards.

It's sad that we need a RU-vid asking, "Who is Brian Jones"

Paint It Black. Masterpiece.