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<\/p>\nWithout Brian Jones, there likely would have been no Rolling Stones. His passion for what the band was trying to do in their early days helped them separate from countless other groups trying to make it in England at the time.<\/p>\n
But the Stones couldn\u2019t have sustained much longer with Jones at the time they made the decision to expel him from the group. In June 1969, three members of the band journeyed to Jones\u2019 home. There, they gave him the bad news.<\/p>\n
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A Multi-Instrumental Marvel<\/p>\n
In 1962, Brian Jones, having left his former group Alexis Corner\u2019s Blues Incorporated, put out the feelers to start the group that would become The Rolling Stones. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were among those who joined up initially. Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts followed not far behind.<\/p>\n
The Stones took England by storm in 1963 and 1964, not long after The Beatles had carved out their path to massive popularity. During those early years, Jones often served as a rhythm guitarist behind Richards\u2019 lead. But he lacked the songwriting prowess that Jagger and Richards soon displayed, putting him in more of a secondary role within the band.<\/p>\n
Jones found a niche when the Stones started playing a more baroque style of music, which was the prevailing style of the mid-60s. His ability to play non-rock instruments, \u00e0 la recorder (on \u201cRuby Tuesday\u201d) or marimba (on \u201cUnder My Thumb\u201d) gave the band something extra that most other groups didn\u2019t possess.<\/p>\n
A Sad Decline<\/p>\n
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Jones\u2019 run of key contributions to The Rolling Stones\u2019 records ended with Beggars Banquet in 1968. That\u2019s when the band rededicated themselves to a bruising, blues-based form of rock and roll. Within that type of music, Jones\u2019 exotic instrumentation wasn\u2019t needed.<\/p>\n
Even if the band hadn\u2019t changed musical direction, it\u2019s likely that Jones\u2019 role within the band would have been mitigated. His use of drugs and alcohol had advanced to an unmanageable point. He either failed to show up for sessions or couldn\u2019t contribute anything if he did.<\/p>\n
The other band members grew increasingly weary of Jones\u2019 unpredictable personality and general deterioration. With the band in the middle of making a new album and another tour looming as a possibility, the majority of the Stones decided to make a change. In June 1969, Jagger, Richards, and Watts drove to Jones\u2019 house to inform him of his ouster.<\/p>\n
Decision Day<\/p>\n