The End … But a new Beginning

By the Beginning of 1968 “The Rolling Stones”, to all intents and purposes, were finished. Their pathetic attempt to follow The Beatles with “Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Electric Lady Land”, their satanic majesty’s request had failed miserably and been enormously panned by critics all over the world.

Their last single, “We Love You” (including its prison door clanging opening), had been the first Rolling Stones single in four years not to go directly into the top five worldwide. Then add to that the bass player, who had lost interest (Bill Wyman was actually amazed this little pop band had lasted so long). The Drummer would have been happy to go back to playing Jazz. Original leader Brian Jones had gotten himself into a terrible state living the Rock ‘n’ Roll life style to the full, and had already reduced the Stones effectively to a quartet as his contributions to the Stones over the past 12 months had been negligible at best. Sadly within 12 months he would drown in mysterious circumstances in his own swimming pool. The management was in tatters, all of them trying to rip the Stones off for as much as they could, trying to line their own pockets before the ship went down. The outlook as they say was pretty bleak

However, as we all know through all this, nobody had reckoned on the Glimmer Twins. Yes, those two warring Rock ‘n’ Roll brothers Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. (Mick Jagger, the first man that had managed to get the words “sexy” and “Englishman” in the same sentence for over a decade.)

Could they pull the wood from the fire? Of course they could. Forgetting all the jiggery pokey of that silly giggly Maha Raja, they had been off learning the cosmic universe. From there they got back into London’s studios and started doing what they do best: Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Released in June 1968 “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”, like a bolt out of the blue, gave the Stones the kick start they needed to resurrect their career.

With a shattering “get up on your feet and dance” opening riff, you immediately knew the Rolling Stones were back at their dirty outrageous best. Keith Richards playing guitar like nobody knew he could before. Crunching riffs that grabbed you by the throat told you who the boss was, and never let you doubt it as it came time to breathe again. When it came down to a solo for the song, Keith plucked it right from the depths of the devils own guitar playing (whether Keith had to sell his soul for this one shall never be known). As bass player Bill Wyman was not around, Keith is the man responsible for those amazing bass lines that run through the song (it’s always worth turning your bass up on the C.D player for this one) Supplied with this soundtrack, the other Glimmer Twin flipped and came out with a bunch of lyrics to suit the occasion. This is the final verse and I think you’ll agree, Mick knew he was back.

“I was drowned, I was washed up and left for dead
I fell down to my feet and I saw they bled
I frowned at the crumbs of a crust of bread
I was crowned with a spike right thru my head
But it’s all right now, in fact, it’s a gas!
But it’s all right now, I’m Jumpin’ Jack Flash
It’s a gas! Gas! Gas!
Jumpin’ Jack Flash, it’s a gas”

“Jumpin’ Jack Flash” put the Stones back where they belong, at No. 1. So, without even touring, the Stones had reclaimed their crown as the number one Rock ‘n’ Roll band in the world. …. and we still had a Beggers