“On July 12, 1962 – about nine months after (first, editor’s note) meeting at the train station – Jagger and Richards played the first gig with their band. In the Marquee Club on London’s Oxford Street, with blues and rock’n’roll tunes like “Baby, What’s Wrong” by Jimmy Reed or “Down The Road Apiece” by Don Raye, as the opening act for the R’n’B Howler’s Long John Baldey”.
This is how ROLLING STONE author Joachim Hentschel described the beginning of the Stones as a band in the June 2012 issue, at the time combined with an investigative search for clues at the original locations. The trade and change in the world metropolis of London has not gone unnoticed by many. At that time, not only ROLLING STONE celebrated the 50th band anniversary of Jagger & Co. A decade later, one can best imagine the time of departure at that time in black and white. Even then, the UK was NOT in the European Community. That only came with accession in January 1973.
Not only the Marquee Club had to vacate its traditional place on the (today’s) shopping street at some point. Chroniclers count (since 1958) an impressive seven addresses for the legendary live store. The Marquee has been based in Covent Garden since 2007. “Tempi Passati” says the Latin again, and the Romans were after all already in Londonium (See: “Asterix with the Britons”).
But back to the topic. Guitarist Keith Richards is quoted as saying in one of his untold reviews of the early days: “The Marquee was about the biggest club in London at the time. And before that we had only played in junk garages.”
Remarkable in this “pop culture arc” spanning six long decades is the fact that the Rolling Stones, as indestructible mega stadium rockers with their stage aesthetics of the “Sixty” anniversary tour, have returned to the simplicity of the early years. No decoration frills, no pyro show. Just competent music and the magical energy of older gentlemen.
Mick Jagger himself told ROLLING STONE in 2012 on the 50th anniversary: ”It wasn’t the same band, but still the same name. Just Keith and I are still the same people.” The youngster troupe celebrating today’s anniversary consisted of Jagger (vocals), Richards (guitar), Brian Jones (guitar), Ian Stewart (piano) and Dick Taylor (bass). Who sat in the marquee behind the shooting gallery is still a Stones historian dispute to this day.