2STONED

by Andrew Loog Oldham

In 1963, in a south London hotel, Andrew Loog Oldham discovered an unknown rhythm and blues band called the Rolling Stones and became their manager and producer; by 1967 they had achieved worldwide celebrity, been arrested in a notorious drugs raid and split with the manager that made them. 2Stoned is the remarkable record of these years, when Oldham's radical strategies transformed them into the Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band That Ever Drew Breath.

In his first book, Stoned, Oldham recorded his early years and the meeting with the Stones that changed all their fates; 2Stoned is the story of what followed.

Genres: Music, Biography

454 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read 3 of ALO's books. This was his second, preceded by Stoned and followed by Stone Free.

2Stoned tells how, having discovered the Stones (see Stoned) ALO continued to manage them through their early years and chronicles their early singles.
(BTW the sleeve of the Stones debut album was the first ever to omit the band's/artist's name).

In common with the other two, the format of the book is unique in my experience, consisting entirely of paragraphs of quotes from all the main players, backed up with a massive index... Don't worry though, you'll be used to it after 30 minutes.

I've never been a great fan of Sixties culture (I'm just a little too young), but ALO made me interested in that this book was hard to put down, the sign of a great writer. You can't ask for any more than that...

[Christopher Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first one some years back and was disappointed as it didn't cover the Stones' breakthrough years. This does tho and it's a great document on 60s rock and roll. Insightful into the cultivation of the image of the Stones, in no small point down to Oldham force of personality. Brutally honest with himself at times, a large part of the book is made up of recollections from other key players.

[Jon Lisle-Summers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second part of Andrew Loog Oldham's autobiography details, mostly, his decline once, as talented folk who enhance their talent chemically are wont to do, his talent and his addiction swapped places (cf Hunter S Thompson and too many others to mention). It's still massively entertaining and disturbing in equal parts, one up each nostril.

If his intention was to be honest about the fun/crash reality then he's succeeded completely. Being really good at something whilst taking something really good to turn it up to eleven, is incredible. Mind-blowing. In all senses. Don't look down.

Seen from a couple of decades after the principle events, it's also a picture of a vanished era. Partly, it's because, yes, a lot of time has passed and all the faces have changed and more and more often they are dead. The music world of today is from a distant planet, 2000 light years from home and She's a Rainbow is adorning a TV advert, clipped and shorn.

No, the music world described here no longer exists anywhere. What's passed down to us, in the 21st century, is a filleted, skinned and beautifully plated up version of What Happened Back Then. ALO makes an excellent effort of trying to put the flesh and bones back together; very few will ever get this close to the Reality. Which is ironic really, considering how off our heads we were. This is the top reason for reading this. It will never happen again quite like this until it does, of course.

[Rog Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this as much as the earlier book "Stoned" as this book keeps jumping about through the years (even going back to the years covered by "Stoned") rather than proceeding chronologically. It's not a bad read though and I found the things it did not mention as interesting as the things it did. For example the author barely mentions the two albums "Out of their heads" and "Between the buttons" which to me implies that he did not think much of them!

[Nancy Heyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, was this ever a fun read! I felt like I was right there with Andrew, managing the Rolling Stones in their glory days in the 60's. He's a great writer, very witty and clever and funny. Sometimes I wasn't quite sure what he was talking about, but that was part of the fun. Great attention to wardrobe throughout!

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. I've read all his books. Couldn't put them down. This man has lived an interesting life, but you can also feel his pain and see how much the firing by the Rolling Stones has affected his life...Sad story in ways. I can only imagine what a ride it must have been when he was with the Stones.

[Tosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second volume of Andrew Loog Oldman's masteripiece. Here we get the inside world of the Rolling Stones as well as other movers and shakers of that great decade (the 60's). Mod culture at its best.

[Leigh Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great but a lot repeated from no 1

[Spragga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great tales of excess, triumph and tragedy, however his style of writing was far too pretentious and flowery, for me anyway.