The Rolling Stones

ROLLING STONES NO FILTER TOUR: ONE MAN OUT

The Rolling Stones have been itching to resume their covid cancelled USA No Filter tour, but according to Roger Friedman, it turns out they’re going to be missing one man. Drummer Charlie Watts, 80, had some sort of surgical procedure that was described as successful. BUT his doctors decided he needs more rest and recuperation. Watts asked his friend Steve Jordan to play drums for him on the tour – Jordan says he’ll be happy to give up his seat at the drums as soon as Charlie recovers.

A SLIPPERY SLOPE FOR MICK JAGGER

He was leaving a Christmas party in London when Mick Jagger gasped as he felt himself stripping on the slick stairs. Fortunately he was able to grab to arm of a man nearby – he appeared to be his bodyguard. A trip to the hospital would have been inconvenient: not only has Mick been spending time with his 31 year old girlfriend Melanie Hamrick (they have an 8 month old baby boy together) but he’s also been seen with other young women in cities where the band is appearing.

Photo Credit: AKM-GSI

MICK JAGGER: TIME IS ON HIS SIDE

You still get your money’s worth at a Rolling Stones concert. Seems like Mick Jagger, 74, is destined to outlive all of us. Retiring is out of the question and Jagger’s energy level is astonishing for a GREAT-grandfather! Mick’s current girlfriend is ballerina Melanie Hamrick, 30, and 8 months ago they had their first child together- a boy they named Deveraux. Mick’s 8th offspring – he can afford it.

(Above, the Stones performing in Paris)

Photo Credit: AKM-GSI

MARIANNE FAITHFULL GOT WHAT SHE WANTED – AND MORE

Back in the swinging 1960’s London scene, society girl and singer Marianne Faithfull was almost as famous as The Rolling Stones. The “As Tears Go By” singer was Mick Jagger’s beautiful girlfriend and every female wanted to look like her. She was the inspiration for Stones’ songs like “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and “Wild Horses.” Her perfect life degenerated into a mire of drug excess, heroin addiction, alcoholism, arrests, living on the streets, and health problems. After numerous visits to rehab, the gravel-voiced singer continued to record and put together a successful cabaret act. (She also wrote 3 books!) Marianne miraculously survived where many of her companions of the era did not. She’s 69 now and showed up at the Chanel show during Paris Fashion Week.

Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News

THE ROLLING STONES DID A TV COMMERCIAL IN 1964

video via: Dangerous Minds

Talk about selling out! Even the Rolling Stones couldn’t resist getting paid to do a TV commercial for Kellogg’s Rice Krispies back in 1964. Brian Jones wrote the jingle and it’s so funny to hear those familiar voices singing about cereal.They were heavily influenced by Chuck Berry in those days. The ad ran in the UK but never made it to America.

ROLLING STONE RONNIE WOOD SUCCESSFULLY COMBINES DRINKING AND PAINTING

We knew Ronnie Wood was a boozehound, but we didn’t realize he is an accomplished artist! The Rolling Stones musician is seen above, bringing some of his paintings (mostly of women!) to a South London gallery for an upcoming show. Wood has long had a talent for art – he won an award for his drawings as a child and his work has become collectible. Lately he’s been getting lots of negative publicity for leaving his wife for a Russian teenager and other liquor fueled antics. How this affects the value of his art remains to be seen.

ANITA PALLENBERG WAS THE ROLLING STONES’ INSPIRATION

It seems like a lot of rockstar types die young, and if they don’t their drugging, chainsmoking, and partying catches up to them. Rock chick Anita Pallenberg was a gorgeous model/actress in the swinging sixties – she dated at least two Rolling Stones and toured the world with the band. (That’s her in the top photo with Mick and Keith in 1968) She dated Brian Jones for two years and afterward hooked up with Keith Richards for twelve years. They had three kids together. Anita’s 65 now (she was photographed outside a supermarket, looking cranky) and we think she might have aged better if she’d taken care of herself, but she DID have an extraordinary amount of fun!

WHAT MICK JAGGER WANTED FROM ANDY WARHOL – AND WHAT HE GOT

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Our esteemed colleague James St James at The WOW Report published this utterly fascinating letter that Mick Jagger wrote to Andy Warhol in 1969, asking him to design an album cover. It’s delightfully revealing because Mick Jagger was obviously so much better educated that he wanted us to know in those days. His rep back then was that of a care-free, drugged up, frivolous rockstar, but his writing is decidedly smart and upper class. Now we know he was always the brains behind The Rolling Stones. The result of this correspondence was probably the most famous album cover of all time.

JACK NICHOLSON HANGS WITH ROCK STARS

You can’t help but recognize Jack Nicholson in his sunglasses puffing on a cigarette in front of a restaurant in the South of France. But who is his companion? It’s former Rolling Stone, Bill Wyman, who has a home in the area. Since he left the Stones, Wyman hasn’t retired – he performs with his band Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings. We don’t think he’s aged as gracefully- or stylishly – as the other Stones.

ROLLING STONE RONNIE WOOD ON A BOOZE BINGE WITH RUSSIAN TEENAGER

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Rolling Stone and admitted alcoholic Ronnie Wood, 62, has fallen off the wagon in a BIG way. He’s moved an 18 year old Russian cocktail waitress that he met at an “escort bar” into his house in Ireland. Ronnie’s long suffering wife of 23 years, Jo, (above left) and their four children are living in his home in England. Ronnie met Ekaterina Ivanova (above right) three months ago after the London premier of his movie “Shine a Light” and they’ve been on a drinking binge together ever since. Wood has been to rehab half a dozen times – once he was carted off after he was found inebriated under a restaurant table, biting peoples ankles. His publicist admits he’s downing three bottles of vodka a day with his teenage companion. Ronnie loves to party – he once said “I don’t want to end up being a bore like Eric Clapton.