Our Own Story

by The Rolling Stones

Here is the only book that tells the whole story behind the incredible Stones - where they came from, how they got together, their long, hard fight to make it to the top. (from inside cover)

Paperback

First published March 1, 1965

Reviews

[Leothefox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a time-capsule: it's an “autobiography” (the “auto” is debatable) of one of the most significant musical acts in history, from essentially the very beginning of their rise to stardom. Most of the text here is from 1965, although this is a “revised” 1970 edition which tacks on a prologue about the death of Brian Jones and the new member Mick Taylor. The actual meat of the book covers the struggle in obscurity and the recording/reception of early singles and the first two albums (the self-titled one known in the US as “England's Newest Hit-Makers” and “12 x 5”, both are lesser known now).

Most of us today know The Rolling Stones for hits that began appearing in the 1965 and continued with little interruption into the late 90s. I've more or less been a Stones nut for 20 years and I didn't know a thing about early singles like “Come On” or about the actual nature of their relationship with The Beatles. Reading this book is about seeing what the actual initial presentation and perception of this band was.

The book sets out from the first stanza to talk about how The Rolling Stones are a pop phenomenon marked by a strong backlash from the very first. The Stones dealt with being “hated” throughout their rise, largely by people who couldn't get over the fact that they didn't dress up like Cliff Richard and that they all had long hair. They were all enthusiasts of R&B at a time when it was virtually unknown in England (one almost couldn't get a Chuck Berry record there as the whole industry was geared towards a dying and now forgotten form of popular jazz known as “Trad” [before he directed “A Hard Day's Night”, Richard Lester directed a film called “It's Trad, Dad” which I have not seen and neither have you]), which only adds to the harrowing uphill nature of their battle with the music industry.

Much is also made throughout the text of how The Stones were all non-conformists dating back to their school days and how their success was largely due to them simply refusing to give an inch on the things they thought were important. Some of this feels a tad like spin put on by a fawning music journalist impressed by musicians who were still basically teen idols, but it's fun to hear just the same.

It is interesting to note that many of the things the group had so much trouble with up to the time of this record, up to 1965, would become popular trends through the last half of the 60s. Think of how many R&B influenced acts emerged from England and try and imagine a time when the medium simply didn't exist there: that's freakin' pioneering!

I'm extremely biased since the subject is something I'm close to (“Exile on Main Street” is the greatest album of all time, disagree and I'll fight you), so of course I found this to be a thrill-a-minute page-turner.

This also gives you a weird picture of early 60s British slang and terminology. Many of the insults hurled at The Stones include the word “perishing” and all the insults that reference their hair also imply that they need a bath, implying that long-hair and not bathing go hand in hand. Their response was “we hate haircuts but we love barbers”.

Charlie Watts may be a superhero. Read and find out.

[Clinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a book seeking to take advantage of the Stones' sudden popularity with the teeny bopper crowd at the start of the 1964 British Invasion, this is surprisingly good. I have been a huge fan of the Rolling Stones since before the book was published and have read several other books on their beginnings. The story told here is very consistent with what I have learned from the Wyman and Richards autobiographies, documentaries, interviews etc. I can't tell if the Stones actually participated in the writing, but I kind of doubt it. The only evidence of their cooperation is the title. Although the author quotes the boys frequently, he never claims that they were talking to him. I have the sense that much of the content is based on contemporary reporting in the music fan press. I am sure that this is long out of print, but if you happen to see one at a used book store, it is well worth picking up.

[Clio · Rating 2 out of 5]

So boring omg