Brian Jones
British musician, founding member of the Rolling Stones (1942–1969) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones[1][2] (28 February 1942 – 3 July 1969) was an English multi-instrumentalist and singer, and the founder, rhythm/lead guitarist, and original leader of the Rolling Stones.[3] Initially a guitarist, he went on to provide backing vocals and played a wide variety of instruments on Rolling Stones recordings and in concerts.
Brian Jones | |
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.jpg) Jones in 1965 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones |
| Also known as | Elmo Lewis |
| Born | (1942-02-28)28 February 1942 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England |
| Died | 3 July 1969(1969-07-03) (aged 27) Hartfield, East Sussex, England |
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| Instrument(s) | |
| Years active | 1957–1969 |
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| Formerly of | |
After he founded the Rolling Stones as a British blues outfit in 1962, and gave the band its name, Jones's fellow band members Keith Richards and Mick Jagger began to take over the band's musical direction, especially after they became a successful songwriting team. Jones and fellow guitarist Richards also developed a unique style of guitar play that Richards refers to as the "ancient art of weaving" in which both players would play rhythm and lead parts together, which became a Rolling Stones trademark. Jones, however, did not get along with the band's manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, who pushed the band into a musical direction at odds with Jones' blues background, and with whom he got into many fights.
When Jones developed alcohol and drug problems, his performance in the studio became increasingly unreliable, leading to a diminished role within the band he had founded. In June 1969, the Rolling Stones dismissed Jones; guitarist Mick Taylor took his place in the group. Less than a month later, Jones died at the age of 27 by drowning in the swimming pool at his home at Cotchford Farm, East Sussex. His death was referenced in songs by many other pop bands, and Pete Townshend and Jim Morrison wrote poems about it. In 1989, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Rolling Stones.