Brian Jones – A Life of Triumph and Tragedy

Who was Brian Jones? What was he like? It depends on who you ask. Without doubt he was an extraordinarily talented human being – a true visionary who founded the Rolling Stones and set them on their path to stardom. He was also a deeply troubled and insecure young man whose treatment of women was somewhat questionable. Yet even the women who were wronged by him, while admitting his faults, will still jump to his defense if they feel he is being unjustly portrayed. Clearly he was charming, irresponsible, sometimes extremely cruel and sometimes very kind. A complex individual, whose life was a paradox and whose death remains a mystery to this day. Was his drowning in the pool at Cotchford Farm really a ‘death by misadventure’, as the inquest ruled? Was it caused by an overload of drugs and alcohol in his system? Was it an unfortunate accident, perhaps because of an asthma attack or an epileptic seizure, as some have suggested? Or was it something more sinister? Was Brian Jones murdered? There are many, including myself, who believe that he was.
I discovered the Stones at the age of 12, and fell instantly in love with Brian Jones, only to discover, to my shock and dismay, that he was already dead.
This is my tribute to a gifted musician who died way too young, but left the world a richer place due to the legacy of his contribution to the incredible music of the Rolling Stones.
The songs I chose were ‘Blue Turns to Grey’, for his life really did turn from blue to grey, ‘ Child of the Moon’ for, to me, his life was the epitome of the silvery light of the moon shining in the darkness of the night. And finally the hauntingly beautiful ‘No Expectations’ which seems to be eerily prophetic in the light of his tragic death.
RIP Brian Jones