Before The Beatles: The Rolling Stones' Rise to Prominence
When considering the impact of The Beatles on the music industry, it is often easy to overlook the earlier success and significance of The Rolling Stones. The Stones, despite not being the first rock band to emerge, became one of the most influential and successful bands in musical history. However, did The Rolling Stones achieve a status as the biggest band before The Beatles gained widespread recognition? This article delves into the timeline of events that led to The Rolling Stones' rise to prominence post-Please Please Me by The Beatles.
Before The Beatles Released Their First Album
One of the critical factors in understanding The Rolling Stones' early success is the timing of their record deals. The Beatles released their first album Please Please Me on November 22, 1963, making it a significant milestone in their career. However, The Rolling Stones were still a fledgling group during this period, not yet signed to a major record label.
The Meet and Early Impression
The Beatles' first encounter with The Rolling Stones occurred on April 14, 1963, at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond. Richard Starkey (Ringo Starr) vividly remembers the first impression the band made on him:
"I remember standing in some sweaty room and watching them on the stage Keith and Brian – wow! I knew then that the Stones were great. They just had presence."
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison also shared their recollections:
John: "We first went to see the Stones at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond and then at another place in London. They were run by a different guy then Giorgio Gomelsky. When we started hanging around London the Stones were up and coming in the clubs and we knew Giorgio through Epstein. We went down and saw them and became good friends."
George: "They were still on the club scene stomping about doing RB tunes. The music they were playing was more like we'd been doing before we'd got out of our leather suits to try and get onto record labels and television. We'd calmed down by then."
Paul: "Mick tells the tale of seeing us there with long suede coats that we’d picked up in Hamburg coats that no one could get in England. He thought 'Right – I want to be in the music business I want one of those coats.'"
Significance of The Talent Competition
A few days later, George Harrison was part of a talent competition in Liverpool. Dick Rowe, a record executive from Decca Records, was one of the judges. After the competition, George commented on the acts they had seen, with an impressive observation:
George: "Rowe’s ears pricking up he found out the Stones were playing that night and so as soon as he could 'I pushed my chair back and I basically ran to my car and got myself down to Richmond to make sure I was there for that Rolling Stones gig.'"
Rowe's keen interest in The Rolling Stones was not just about mere observation. It played a significant role in the band's signing to Decca Records. After seeing the band's live performance, George and John (along with Paul) wrote their second single and an early success called I Wanna Be Your Man.
Conclusion: The Rolling Stones and Their Journey
The Rolling Stones' journey to becoming one of the most iconic bands of the 20th century wasn't just about timing. It involved a combination of talent, performance, and strategic actions. While The Beatles indeed brought unmatched excitement and recognition to the music world, the Stones laid the groundwork that would eventually lead to their own legendary status.
By the time The Beatles released Please Please Me, The Rolling Stones were already making waves in the British club scene and were on a path that would see them become one of the biggest bands in history.