Stone's Throw from Stardom

Hot on the heels of their single and television appearance, the Stones began rehearsing for their first national tour. They were to be on the bill with American rockers Bo Diddley and the Everly Brothers. One problem that they were starting to encounter, however, was Brian's health. He had always been asthmatic and had bad allergies, and as these conditions were acting up, he was starting to miss a show here and there. It wasn't about to stop them, but it certainly put a small handicap on things.

Another important step was made around this time. Andrew Oldham, always the smart businessman, understood that a band stood to make much more money if they wrote their own songs. Andrew urged Mick and Keith to start writing, but it had never occurred to the boys that it was something they could do. They were still playing and recording mostly covers, but the idea that they could write their own music was becoming more and more appealing.

They continued, for the time being, to play covers. On November 14, 1963, they began recording their first extended play (EP) release. It would consist of covers of American R & B songs. The EP, appropriately called The Rolling Stones, began climbing the charts as the Stones kept on touring. By the time 1964 began, they were on the road with the American girl group the Ronettes, and their EP was riding high at number two on the British EP charts. The single “I Wanna Be Your Man” was number nine on the singles chart.

In addition to the chart success, the Stones were starting to see their live audiences grow and grow, almost to the point where it was dangerous. Young women were rioting everywhere the boys played. At some gigs, the police would shut them down after just a few songs. Most of the time, the band would have to have a car waiting right near the exit to whatever club they played just so the boys could get out with their clothes and hair still attached. It was getting so bad that it moved Ian Stewart to say, “It wasn't pleasant to see what the music did to people.”