I would like to read the best book out there on the Stones earliest days of forming and on into the club shows before they really hit big, Is there a book that stands out above all others as having the most detail of 62-66 ?

Start with Bill Wyman's book "Stone Alone." It chronicles the band's rise from the early jazz and blues clubs in London to international superstars in the late 60s. It's filled with interesting stories and anecdotes, and is an essential read for Stones fans.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024-05-12 05:45 by TornAndFried.

After you have read "Stone Alone" move on to book by James Phelge.

If you didn't read much already about it, maybe The Stones by Philip Norman is an interesting read, including a lot about the start of the band.

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GJV
If you didn't read much already about it, maybe The Stones by Philip Norman is an interesting read, including a lot about the start of the band.

He really doesn't like The Stones, though, and that comes across I think. He is quite sneery/condescending.

Norman is the receipient of my favourite ever Dylan put down, at the Press Conference announcing the film Hearts of Fire in 1986. In typical snotty style, Norman asks Dylan why he isn't concentrating on writing songs and does he have any idea how bored he will be during filming. "Well", Dylan replied, "Maybe you'll be around".

syrel

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TornAndFried
Start with Bill Wyman's book "Stone Alone." It chronicles the band's rise from the early jazz and blues clubs in London to international superstars in the late 60s. It's filled with interesting stories and anecdotes, and is an essential read for Stones fans.

I must get round to reading Bill's 'Stone Alone'

Does anyone know whether Bill employed a ghost writer, or did he have a lot of help with editing, etc? I only wonder, as we all know that, with autobiographies and memoirs, by celebrities and sportsmen, the 'author' is very often someone else!

For me personally, 'Phelge's Stones' without question!

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Big Al

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TornAndFried
Start with Bill Wyman's book "Stone Alone." It chronicles the band's rise from the early jazz and blues clubs in London to international superstars in the late 60s. It's filled with interesting stories and anecdotes, and is an essential read for Stones fans.

I must get round to reading Bill's 'Stone Alone'

Does anyone know whether Bill employed a ghost writer, or did he have a lot of help with editing, etc? I only wonder, as we all know that, with autobiographies and memoirs, by celebrities and sportsmen, the 'author' is very often someone else!

Bill absolutely personally and on his own keyboard (he's a very early Mac user) wrote the first draft of his book. His main sources were his astonishing memory, and his daily diary entries. It's immense and far too long for any sensible publisher.

He then brought in a fairly well known 'music' book author (embarrassingly his name escapes me at the moment!) who edited it down to the published length.

It's a reasonable assumption to make that the co-author wrote some bits by rewriting some longer bits of Bills version. Is that ghost writing, or advanced editing. I dunno.


Someone recommended 'Stone Alone' and Phelge's book. I 100% agree. Read those two, and you've read the best and fullest accounts of those times.

Captain Corella

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CaptainCorella

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Big Al

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TornAndFried
Start with Bill Wyman's book "Stone Alone." It chronicles the band's rise from the early jazz and blues clubs in London to international superstars in the late 60s. It's filled with interesting stories and anecdotes, and is an essential read for Stones fans.

I must get round to reading Bill's 'Stone Alone'

Does anyone know whether Bill employed a ghost writer, or did he have a lot of help with editing, etc? I only wonder, as we all know that, with autobiographies and memoirs, by celebrities and sportsmen, the 'author' is very often someone else!

Bill absolutely personally and on his own keyboard (he's a very early Mac user) wrote the first draft of his book. His main sources were his astonishing memory, and his daily diary entries. It's immense and far too long for any sensible publisher.

He then brought in a fairly well known 'music' book author (embarrassingly his name escapes me at the moment!) who edited it down to the published length.

It's a reasonable assumption to make that the co-author wrote some bits by rewriting some longer bits of Bills version. Is that ghost writing, or advanced editing. I dunno.


Someone recommended 'Stone Alone' and Phelge's book. I 100% agree. Read those two, and you've read the best and fullest accounts of those times.

Thanks! I like to think Bill capable of writing to a high-ish standard. From what you say, it sounds more like 'advanced editing' My understanding is that the 'ghost writing' process consists of the 'author' sitting with the ghost writer and a dictaphone-like device, with the former narrating 'their story' The ghost writer will then put it into written words.

I believe the ghost writer was Ray Coleman.

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syrel
I believe the ghost writer was Ray Coleman.

Yes! Confirmed. Thanks. (But we did establish that he wasn't a ghost writer but and 'advanced editor!)

Captain Corella

Bills other book, "Rolling with the Stones" is also a good source... with some great pictures and enlightening trivia

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Barkerboy2
For me personally, 'Phelge's Stones' without question!

+1

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CaptainCorella

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Big Al

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TornAndFried
Start with Bill Wyman's book "Stone Alone." It chronicles the band's rise from the early jazz and blues clubs in London to international superstars in the late 60s. It's filled with interesting stories and anecdotes, and is an essential read for Stones fans.

I must get round to reading Bill's 'Stone Alone'

Does anyone know whether Bill employed a ghost writer, or did he have a lot of help with editing, etc? I only wonder, as we all know that, with autobiographies and memoirs, by celebrities and sportsmen, the 'author' is very often someone else!

Bill absolutely personally and on his own keyboard (he's a very early Mac user) wrote the first draft of his book. His main sources were his astonishing memory, and his daily diary entries. It's immense and far too long for any sensible publisher.

He then brought in a fairly well known 'music' book author (embarrassingly his name escapes me at the moment!) who edited it down to the published length.

It's a reasonable assumption to make that the co-author wrote some bits by rewriting some longer bits of Bills version. Is that ghost writing, or advanced editing. I dunno.


Someone recommended 'Stone Alone' and Phelge's book. I 100% agree. Read those two, and you've read the best and fullest accounts of those times.

I would love to have an unedited version of STONE ALONE. More trivia and dull facts - Works exactly for a Stones nerd as me....

- Doxa

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Spud
Bills other book, "Rolling with the Stones" is also a good source... with some great pictures and enlightening trivia

Yes, that's a terrific tomb.

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Doxa

I would love to have an unedited version of STONE ALONE. More trivia and dull facts - Works exactly for a Stones nerd as me....

- Doxa

You and me both! But don't forget that the text pretty much ends with Hyde Park 1969. That means that he's got another 20 years to document as well!

Captain Corella

but then he developed sticky fingers .....



ROCKMAN