On April 16, 1964 the debut album by a band in London with a preference and inclination towards the American blues, entitled their name: The Rollings Stones. One and a half months later, on May 30, through the London Records, the album enters the North American market under the name: “England’s Newest Hit Makers”. The title was not just accidental.
The man who rejected the Beatles
On New Year’s Day 1962, a trio from Liverpool consisting of Paul McCarntey, George Harisson and Pete Best, together with their manager, Brian Epstein, record a demo in the studios of the record company, Decca Records. The company’s A&R, Dick Rowe, listens to the demo and is not moved. According to Epstein in his autobiography, Rowe rejected the young people from the North of England and allegedly said: “Mr Epstein, guitar bands are outdated“, A phrase that Rowe has denied.
The Beatles start making a huge noise in England and already the first signs of hysteria are appearing.
Rowe, having been charged with their rejection seeks to find the adversary awe. So when they introduce him to a band from London called The Rolling Stones, signing a contract looks like a one-way street. Such was his “desperation” to find the next band that would make sense, that he was forced to sign a contract with terms so favorable that few even mature artists or bands enjoyed it.
Beatlemania
On February 9, 1964, the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan television show in the United States. It is recorded on television receivers record with 73 million viewers.
It is the turning point in the history of the Music Industry and the beginning for the next kings of music to be crowned conquering the entire planet.
The “rival awe”
Rowe, having lost the Beatles phenomenon through his hands, tries to save his reputation.
The Rollings Stones look like the perfect vehicle.
At a time when the Beatles hysteria is gaining momentum, on April 16, 1964, releases the Rolling Stones self-titled album.
An album with 12 songs and just a composition by Jagger, Richards (Tell Me, became the first Top-30 in the US), as the remaining 11 are covers.
At the end of May, the album was released in North America under the title: “England’s Newest Hit Makers”. The title suggests that the Rolling Stones are the answer to the Beatles.
Rowe and their manager realized very early on that the Rolling Stones should act as an awe-inspiring rival.
The Beatles were considered the good guys in the music industry, the Rolling Stones had to be the bad guys. As they themselves have confessed, many times they had extreme behaviors while they themselves had no such disposition, they simply followed the orders of their company.
After 60 years of career (founded in 1962), history records sales of more than 200 million recordsmore than 60 world tours, 3 Grammy Awards, entry to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, dozens of awards and a number of No. 1 hits and gold records.
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