Brian Jones

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Lore & Background

Jones's life began in Cheltenham, where an attack of croup left him with lifelong asthma. His middle-class parents were musical; his father taught piano while working as an aeronautical engineer, and his mother led a church choir. Jones preferred blues artists like Elmore James and Robert Johnson over the classical music he heard as a child. By 1957, he had obtained seven O-level passes. He attended Cheltenham Grammar School for Boys, where he became first clarinet in the orchestra and enjoyed badminton and diving. Despite finding school regimented and suspending him twice for hostility to authority, a friend described him as a 'rebel without a cause' who was brilliant during exams.

In Their Own Story

On 2 May 1962, Jones placed an advertisement in the Jazz News inviting musicians to audition at the Bricklayer's Arms pub. Pianist Ian Stewart responded first, followed by Mick Jagger, who brought along childhood friend Keith Richards. The trio solidified when they played Robert Johnson's 'Dust My Broom' with Alexis Korner's band at the Ealing Jazz Club. Jones accepted Richards and his Chuck Berry songs, which drove away blues purists Geoff Bradford and Brian Knight. Later, while on a phone call with a venue owner asking for their name, Jones panicked as he looked down to see an album by Muddy Waters; track five, side one was 'Rollin' Stone Blues,' giving the band its identity.

Reader's Guide

Jones's personal life was marked by numerous relationships and fatherhood issues. He had a child with Pat Andrews in October 1964 but drifted away after being instructed not to be seen with them by management. In October 1964, he paid £700 (equivalent to £11,864 in 2023) to Dawn Molloy to sign an agreement closing the matter of her pregnancy and child. His relationship with Anita Pallenberg ended in 1967 when she left him for Keith Richards after Jones became abusive, breaking his hand on her face. By June 1969, Jones was dismissed from the band due to unreliable studio performance caused by alcohol and drug problems, replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor.

Did You Know?

• Jones named the band after seeing 'Rollin' Stone Blues' as track five on side one of a Muddy Waters album.
• He left school after O-levels and did not take or pass A-levels, despite being described as brilliant during exams.
• In October 1964, he paid Dawn Molloy £700 (equivalent to £11,864 in 2023) to sign an agreement regarding her pregnancy.
• Jones died by drowning at age 27 less than a month after being dismissed from the band in June 1969.
• Pete Townshend and Jim Morrison wrote poems about Jones's death, which was also referenced in songs by many other pop bands.