The Mammoth Book Of The Rolling Stones

by Sean Egan (Editor )

'The greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world!This vainglorious introduction given to The Rolling Stones on stage by an excitable roadie was almost immediately accepted as a simple statement of fact. It was already evident that Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Co. were, as their first manager Andrew Loog Oldham had claimed, a way of life .The Stones defiance of convention made them the figureheads of a questioning new generation, and drove the Establishment to imprison them. This enduring rebel aura and the unmistakeable craft evident in classic records such as Satisfaction, Honky Tonk Women and Brown Sugar ensured subsequent generations of diehard fans, establishing the band as the biggest box office attraction the world has ever seen.The Mammoth Book of The Rolling Stones provides a comprehensive collection of reviews, analysis, interviews and exposs both archive and contemporary, favourable and critical, concise and epic of these extraordinary cultural icons as they pass the astonishing milestone of 50 years as rock s pre-eminent band.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

A freelance journalist, author and editor who writes about arts and entertainment (music, film, TV, comics and literature), social history (20th and 21st centuries) and sport (soccer and tennis history).

Reviews

[Harry Burnside · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was one of nostalgia, The Rolling Stone interview with Keith from 1970. Reviews of all their major works most of which I agreed with. Views also from Mick Taylor, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts. Interesting that Sean Egan who reviews the albums continually in all the albums after Some Girls considers Charlie is always too high in the mix.
Most interesting was a document Mick Jagger wrote to give his side of the story as to the feud between him and Keith and also the reasons for the poor albums after Some Girls.
On the whole a very interesting insight throughout.

[Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mammoth isn't an exaggeration, as this book weighs in at over 525 pages. It contains reviews of all the Stones records, as well as a couple of interviews with Mick and Keith and commentary from various rock and roll writers, some recent, others vintage, some well known, others less so.

The book moves chronologically through the Stones 50 plus year career, and reflects the Stones change from Rock and Roll rebels putting out an album (yes, they were albums back then) a year to essentially a corporation, coasting on their reputation and putting out almost nothing of note for the past three decades. The one who wanted a knighthood (Mick) got it, despite a rather notable lack of charitable giving often associated with such a title. The one who couldn't have cared less (Keith) didn't. And so it goes with the pair.

Love them or hate them (and probably some combination of both) one has to admire their sheer tenacity to make first music, then later money. They seem to both love and hate each other, if not themselves, as well. This is the band in which the key participants stole girlfriends, cucked each other, denied credit for songs, denied space for songs, and ridiculed each other publicly, amongst many other shortcomings (tiny togger indeed). After reading this book one is glad that the Beatles broke up rather than felt compelled to stay together to make money, amidst ever increasing rancor.

If you only have 15 minutes, the best article to read is by Bill Wyman (no, not that Bill Wyman), imagining Mick's reaction to Keith's book. It's on a slightly higher level than most of the rest of the articles, yet also sums most of them up nicely. And let's face it, reading about all the bad behavior and gossip is fun. Just be sure to shower afterwords.

[John Eliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb. This was not a book about the sex, drugs and rock and roll. It did not belong on the pages of the gutter press. It was a well written, criticism of the Stones lps/cds. Of course with a lot of background thrown in and some fascinating interviews. I liked the honesty of the reviews. For me the Stones music gets worse as it progresses particularly after 1972, and Sean Egan agrees. The Stones though? They are still the greatest rock n roll band in the world and this is one of the greatest book about them.
John Eliot, poet and editor.

[Glenn Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting concept , revisiting the past in context of when albums (or singles) were released and an accurate assessment of how the 'mood of the times' was in relation to how well the music was received.
Quite enjoy reading it