The stones at the o2

[Mike Honey]

I was a Mod in 63/64, spending nearly every weekend either gigging or watching different bands, and although playing in an R and B group (R'n'B was not what it is now!!) Wouldnt have dreamt of saying i liked the Shadows (just not cool with their old fashioned suits lol!)
I saw the Stones in their heyday (also the Beatles; the Who, The herd, Creation, Moody blues,Dave Clark five, Migil five, spencer Davis,Hollies, Cliff bennett, etc etc.)The stones had the best sound of all and really rocked.
anyway, yes its true that in those days image was (nearly) everything; the Beatles were for the girls, the guys had the Who and the Stones. Bear in mind that this was in london. Dont know if it was like that in the 'provinces'.

mike

[dave robinson]

I think all three, Hank, Bruce and Brian (Tony of course is not possible anymore) make The Shadows. Hank did some wonderful solo stuff in the 1990's and early 2000's, but to me a live "Apache" or a live "The Rise And Fall Of Flingel Bunt" are still the best with Bruce and Brian (and Tony in the early years), compared to Ben Marvin and Peter May (despite their musical excellence). Accomplished as Ben and Peter are, to me they have never been and will never be 'Shadows'.

Peter May and Ben weren't supposed to be Shadows - they backed hank on his solo 'Hank Marvin' tours. The clue is in the name.

[kipper]

I didn't experience it myself, because I wasn't born yet at the time, but I have read that in the mid-1960's it was fashion or common to like The Beatles OR The Rolling Stones, not both and that sometimes it wasn't even accepted if you liked both groups. I couldn't imagine that nowadays, you like what you like in my opinion, be it The Beatles, The Rolling Stones or both groups.

it was the thing back in the day to follow the beatles or the stones not both, its only looking back now that i relized this was the case. bit silly really but it was mods or rockers you couldnt be in two camps. but i loved the beatles and every thing about them, (still do) but i was a rocker at the time and liked the stones but didnt follow them like i did the beatles. but when i got a bit older about 18- 19 i started to follow the stones more untill i thought when mick jagger and the lips symbol took over was the start in my opion there decline, peter

[hansaustria]

The Stones are an INSTITUTION since a long time !

I see it as very difficult to get a band 50 years alive with great success.
Congratulations!

Hans

[JimN]

I saw the Stones in their heyday (also the Beatles; [etc])The stones had the best sound of all and really rocked.

Playing live, you can get away with a lot, but in a recorded medium - whether commercial recording or TV/radio appearances, it's not that easy. That's also part of the reason why session-men were so regularly employed to double for well-known group members during the glory days*.

I've never seen the Rolling Stones live, but I've heard and seen live recordings of the group. They frequently don't sound anything like their records and they often sound like an indifferent pub band on an off-night. You know the sort of thing - the pub band whose lead guitarist can never keep his instrument in tune.


[* Oh yes... nominations for groups that didn't play on their records? We know about Love Affair and the Bay City Rollers, but how about the others? Gerry & The Pacemakers? Was it really Ralph Ellis playing that scorching, career-defining lead break on Hippy Hippy Shake?]

[Mike Honey]

Totally agree with what you are saying Jim but in those days the only records we listened to were american imports. The big thrill was going out every weekend and hearing a live band. As i remember it there were only two groups whose live sound was the same as their recorded: the Hollies (fantastic harmonies) and the Spencer Davis group (steve winwood was only about 16 with a voice like ray charles!!)

mike

[Uncleboko]

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... gC_3KegEC8

Frankly when Jeff Beck took over the proceedings, the Stones sounded like a bunch of schoolboys practising in a church hall!

Now when they sounded like this.......http://soundcloud.com/bonzo3legs/hi-heeled-sneekers

[kipper]

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rolling+stones+jeff+beck&oq=rolling+stones+jeff+beck&gs_l=youtube-reduced.3..0.3153.11403.0.11755.24.13.0.11.11.1.819.3007.4j4j3j5-1j1.13.0...0.0...1ac.1.hgC_3KegEC8

Frankly when Jeff Beck took over the proceedings, the Stones sounded like a bunch of schoolboys practising in a church hall!

Now when they sounded like this.......http://soundcloud.com/bonzo3legs/hi-heeled-sneekers

thanks for putting that up, proper stones. peter

[Steve Parish]

Whoops...!

[Derek Misselbrook]

Hic!