Brian Jones founded the Rolling Stones, but his own band eventually pushed him out
In short: A brilliant multi-instrumentalist who named the Rolling Stones and defined their early blues-focused sound, Brian Jones watched his influence evaporate as his bandmates rose to power. Plagued by substance abuse and legal turmoil, he was eventually sidelined from the group he created, dying just weeks after his departure in 1969.
Born in 1942, Brian Jones was a gifted musician who moved to London to immerse himself in the local rhythm and blues scene. In 1962, he placed an advertisement in Jazz News to recruit members for a new band, eventually forming the Rolling Stones. As the group's initial business manager and creative force, Jones was instrumental in securing early gigs and shaping the band's identity. He was a versatile player, proficient on a wide array of instruments, and his slide guitar work was central to the band's early success.
However, the band's dynamic shifted as Mick Jagger and Keith Richards emerged as a formidable songwriting team. Their manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, encouraged this transition, prioritizing Jagger's stage presence and the financial benefits of original compositions over the blues covers Jones favored. As the band's direction moved away from his vision, Jones felt increasingly alienated. His personal life became chaotic, marked by volatile relationships, heavy substance use, and multiple arrests for drug possession. These struggles led to erratic behavior in the studio, where he became a marginal figure, often unable to contribute to recording sessions.
By 1969, Jones's inability to secure a US work visa due to his legal issues, combined with his declining reliability, made his position in the band untenable. In June 1969, the Rolling Stones dismissed him, replacing him with Mick Taylor. Less than a month later, at age 27, Jones drowned in his swimming pool. Despite his tragic end and the internal conflicts that defined his final years, his foundational role in the band was later recognized when he was honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Brian Jones
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