What do you think their best decision to date has been? Would it be the hiring of Mick Taylor? Hiring Ron Wood? Going back to the archives to get some good stuff for Tattoo You? Changing their sound often in the early years? What would be their best decision?

Oh theres been so many. For the most part, they have such good instincts. too numerous to mentinon...

being the Rolling Stones - i mean exactly the Rolling Stones

let go of their ears - they know what they're doing



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-12-09 12:21 by with sssoul.

Sadly, I would have to say sacking Brian Jones. They were on the cusp of world domination and had the balls to take the difficult decisions.

1. Leave Decca
2. Regroup for the '89 Steel Wheels album/tour

Continuing after Bill left.

JumpingKentFlash

Stay together

Possibly the hiring of Ronnie.

I think this move may have kept Mick and Keith together which equals keeping the Stones together.

To retain the balls to continue playing live. Watching Keith from back stage at the Rio show (doc) walking out to so many fans and keeping his nerve.

To continue after their Europe 2007 tour.

Not having Chris Kimsey anywhere near them when cutting an album.

Not undersale their artistic integrity like instead Aerosmith did.

getting rid of brian

Continuing!

Continuing after so many big quarrels (Mick vs Keith) in the middle 80s.
Continuing after B. Wyman left.
Continuing to do tours giving us great performances.
Continuing to be the Stones, themselves...

Deciding to get back to their R&B roots during the Beggars Banquet sessions. This one is a slam dunk. Popular music was getting increasingly complex in the mid-60's, and the Stones felt the need to keep up. After releasing Between the Buttons in an attempt to emulate Revolver/Pet Sounds (to which BTB, although a decent album, was vastly inferior), and getting completely sidetracked with Their Satanic Majesties Request, they decided to just get back to what they do best, hooked up with Jimmy Miller, and cranked out JJF and Beggars Banquet. The rest is history.

Keith quitting junk.

Elmo Lewis Wrote:
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> Keith quitting junk.

Hard to argue with that one. He'd probably be dead by now if he had continued.

With a band that has been existing for more than 40 years that´s not easy to say, there are so many important steps. But one step was more important than the others. After their three pop albums Aftermath, Between the buttons and Satanic they had alienated their fan base and were not any longer a major act. Since I was around at that time, I can tell you that I had already given up on them and listened to other bands like Hendrix, Cream ecc. Then the Stones decided to go back to their Rhytm & Blues roots and did Jumping Jack Flash. The rest is history.

If they hadn´t taken that step they had since long been forgotten. Very very few listens to the above mentioned three albums.

To start up touring again in 89 after 7 years with to much trouble.

Staying true to R & B, Blues and Rock. Thank GOD for A Bigger Bang!!!

Having the ability to release kick ass singles and albums just when you think where are they going e.g Jumpin' Jack Flash, Start Me Up, Miss You, Love Is Strong etc. Also having the balls to continue when the press have been continually sniping about long hair, poor men Beatles and in recent years their ages. Keep on going boys..

Well, it was Andrew Oldham's...

Locking them into a room until they had a song of their own, the birth of the Jagger/Richards partnership. Cause really, for me, when it comes down to it, they're my favourite band because ALL of those AWESOME SONGS.

stickydion Wrote:
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> Continuing!
>
> Continuing after so many big quarrels (Mick vs
> Keith) in the middle 80s.
> Continuing after B. Wyman left.
> Continuing to do tours giving us great
> performances.
> Continuing to be the Stones, themselves...


Right On!

Hookin up with Andrew Loog Oldham.........and Mick carryin those lps to the train station when he was a young upstart



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-12-09 18:05 by Leonard Keringer.

All of their other significant attributes - individual and collective - notwithstanding, Mick's conscious decision to stay in such truly amazing shape has probably reaped more benefits for the band and us as fans than immediately meets the eye.

Oh...

Commisioning the tonge logo. GENIUS.

Seinfeld Wrote:
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> [www.rolling-stones.ru]
> taylor%20colour%200006.jpg


That was a good one.

One of the best... The Licks Tour. Rekindled the old flame for me.

mago Wrote:
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> With a band that has been existing for more than
> 40 years that´s not easy to say, there are so many
> important steps. But one step was more important
> than the others. After their three pop albums
> Aftermath, Between the buttons and Satanic they
> had alienated their fan base and were not any
> longer a major act. Since I was around at that
> time, I can tell you that I had already given up
> on them and listened to other bands like Hendrix,
> Cream ecc. Then the Stones decided to go back to
> their Rhytm & Blues roots and did Jumping Jack
> Flash. The rest is history.
>
> If they hadn´t taken that step they had since long
> been forgotten. Very very few listens to the above
> mentioned three albums.


While I do like two of the three albums you mention, and feel they are classics, I think you make an great point. Without the Big Four, who knows what would have kept the momentum up for them the last three decades.