Posted by Ben on May 20, 2000 at 08:52:31:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Golden Stone by Laura Jackson posted by Keno on May 19, 2000 at 23:52:20:
I wish to second the remarks of Keno and the others in Brian's defense. Brian Jones was enormously important in the development of rock and roll, and he was essential to the Rolling Stones--their sound, their image, their charisma. Brian Jones' case should not be overstated. I've never viewed him a technically "brilliant" or a virtuoso. He was an incredibly gifted, lyrical and innovative dabbler. His dabbling with different sounds and instruments were what gave much of the Rolling Stones' best music their shimmer.
Imagine "Ruby Tuesday" without his recorder; imagine "Paint It Black" or "Mother's Little Helper" without his sitar; imagine "Not Fade Away" without his harmonica; imagine "Little Red Rooster" or "No Expectations" without his slide guitar; imagine "2000 Light Years From Home" or "We Love You" without his mellotron; imagine "Under My Thumb" or "Out of Time" without his marimbas; "Dandelion" without his soprano saxophone and harpsichord; imagine "Back Street Girl" without his French accordion; "The Last Time" without his lead guitar riff.
Yes, Brian Jones was emotionally troubled. This fact, however, does not diminish his importance to the Rolling Stones and to popular music in the 60's.