Gimme Shelter CAN Buy Me Love

So there I was, sat in my beautiful garden on a warm October’s Sunday morning having a brew contemplating the problems of the world such as the reasons certain Swedish furniture manufacturers make tables so easy to assemble and so ridiculously impossible to re-assemble!!, the religious significance of ringing bells at eight thirty in the fucking morning and continental Europe’s obsession with mullets and double denim and most important of all: who do you prefer, The Beatles or The Stones? Everyone knows that when it comes to the greatest British band there has always (and always will be) two contender. Much has been said of late regarding The Fab Four with the likes of the launch of their rather sac-religious new Guitar Hero game and all the other exposure in certain media outlets. It really has been ‘their time’ of late and I, for sure, am one who is getting rather sick of it all mainly down to the fact that Sir Paul & Yoko Ono are fucking raking in money which they really do not need. So, I’m gonna stick up for (who I consider) to be the greatest: Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones! Now, I know your gonna give me a bit of stick regarding my last comment about Ono & McCartney raking in the cash as The Stones have been touring way too long for a lot of people’s liking and making unbelievable amounts of money in the process, but I genuinely believe that Mick ‘n Keef love touring and would feel like a fish out of water if indeed they were to hang up their guitars and make full use of their bus passes. But come on now! Can you really see the two of them sat at home writing their memoirs with their slippers on drinking a glass of warm milk before bedtime each night? Neither can I. I know a lot of people see them as a laughing stock, but I really don’t think they give a fuck what people think, that’s why they continue to tour Now, you must believe here when I say I’m not having a go at Beatles fans, But I’ve always felt there has always been a certain degree of mocking towards Stones’ fans when it comes to actual talent. I sometimes think it borders on snobbishness to be honest as most of them can compare a Stones album to something AC/DC would release (you know what your gonna get) where as many Beatles fans see them as innovators and pioneers of modern music and they see the Stones as mere ‘donkeys’ of rock ‘n’ roll. Another thing people harp on about when talking about The Beatles is always Ringo and his ‘other’ abilities apart from drumming. Personally I’ve no idea what these special powers are, but, batting for The Stones as their ‘all rounder’ was the late great Brian Jones. Jones could basically turn his hand to any musical instrument and he was, after all, the man who formed The Stones and, bizarrely enough, went onto manage Jimi Hendrix. We all know the rest as regards Hendrix’ career. So we have a lot to thank him for even though the horrible bastard did used to knock the shit out of his girlfriend Anita Pallenberg (good job Keith stepped in when he did eh?) I feel one of the most important things that we also have The Stones to thank for is the birth of Arena Touring. Their 1969 tour of America was such a massive hit for everyone involved (promoters, fans and the band to name a few) that they quite simply set the trend when it came to large scale touring operations of the likes you see today Influential albums: When ever you see one of them top 50 albums of all time programmes, I’ll guarantee the old chestnuts are there such as Ok Computer, Pet Sounds and of course Sergeant Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band. Sadly, for me, there is one album that is usually missing from that list. Not that I lose any sleep over it not being in one of these top ten lists, but Exile on Main Street is not so much the finest Stones album, but it is the finest album ever made. I usually get asked by some people what is my favourite album and that is always out of my before they’ve finished their question. No ifs. No buts. Its such a fantastic album not just because of the amazing songs it contains (Rocks Off, Shine A Light, Let It Loose, Ventilator Blues, Tumbling Dice = to name just a few), but it’s the whole circumstances The Stones found themselves in at the time it was recorded. If you didn’t know they were on the verge of bankruptcy due to the tax laws in Britain at the time and had to flee the country to live in Keith Chateau in the South of France. Drink and drugs were plenty and the band were pretty much knackered from the afore mention touring. Hence the name = Exile on Main Street. It really is a wonderful album though, and if you do not possess a copy, shame on you! Now, before you ‘Beatle-Heads’ jump back on my throat and say The Beatles has more than one influential album in the form of ‘Revolver’, ‘The White Album’, and ‘Abbey Road’, I must also point out that for these three albums The Stones also released the likes of ‘Beggars Banquet’, ‘Sticky Fingers’ and, what many Stones’ fans consider their finest hour: ‘Let It Bleed’. Tit for Tat I suppose you could say? Now, I’m gonna end this blog with a degree of sentimentality. Everyone pretty much knows my love for The Stones and I really could go on all day about them (I usually do anyway much to the displeasure of most of my friends), but, gladly for you, I’m not. But I will leave you with this: when a band is well and truly deeply embedded in your heart there is quite simply no way to ever get them to leave. No matter what they do, no matter who they end up having kids with, no matter who they kill and most important of all: no matter what kind of shit they release, they will still be there giving you that tingly feeling you had when you first heard Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Satisfaction, Gimme Shelter and Street Fighting Man. Great music and great bands do that to people. That’s what makes them great. So while you’re on the internet, go and buy Exile on Main Street. You’ll thank me for it one day. Mol