I was thrilled that one of the first books I won through Goodreads First Reads program was this book, a biography on a musician. I am a music blogger and spent several years heavily immersed in a very active music scene. I rarely read books like this, but I really ought to read more.

Even as a semi-pro music blogger I really didn’t know much about the Rolling Stones before reading this book. I wasn't born yet when the Stones began, so I knew there were scandals involving sex and drugs, and that the Rolling Stones were instrumental in establishing ‘sex, drugs and rock&roll’ as a mantra for touring musicians, and I vaguely knew that the guy who started the band way back when died young. That was about it.

The story of the Rolling Stones is important to understanding the current music world. I have no interest in scandal-mongering, so I was relieved to find that Trynka’s new biography on Brian Jones, the founder of the Stones, is all about Brian’s life, not his death. Even dying so young, it seems a shame that so many people only know about his death, not about the 27 years he was still alive. The presence of other death oriented books on this man is inescapable, and I did find it annoying the by halfway through the story Trynka was already foreshadowing Brian’s tragic end as if Brian would be dying on the next page, or at least by the next chapter. I could have done without much of that, but even so, I get the feeling that this new biography is far more balanced, complete, and respectful towards a sadly underappreciated musical talent whose life ought to have enriched the music world for decades longer.

In Trynka’s new biography, we get a front-row seat for the making of the Stones from its very early days when the lads who became this legendary band were just a bunch of young kids with instruments hanging out and gaping at older musicians at shows. I was strongly reminded in this part of the book of the culture at Hodi’s Halfnote on Monday nights, or of those 4-5 act ‘festivals’ common in Fort Collins where most of the audience plays some sort of instrument, too. And, the tensions that were at play in the early Stones sound very much like those that create many of the band-collapses and line-up changes in bands everywhere. Seeing this human, approachable side of the men who are the Rolling Stones makes me far more interested in their band and their music. I may have to listen to their albums again now to hear them with my newly attuned ears.

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A sympathetic, revealing, and insightful biography of the Rolling Stones founder and most musically gifted among its members, who met an untimely demise in the 1969 at the age of 27. ( )

Brian Jones does not surface in the minds of most people thinking of the Rolling Stones. What a shame it is that the name has been relegated to history. He founded the iconic rock group that lives on more than a half-century later. Author Paul Trynka guides the reader through this troubled man's short life.

Trynka explores the musical genius who formed the Stones when British musical groups were taking the world by storm. Life was difficult for Jones, who didn't make it any easier on himself by indulgence in heavy drug use. The drugs got him into major trouble with the law on multiple occasions when his physical and emotional stability was at its most fragile state.

In the course of his young adult life, Brian moved from woman to woman and fathered a few children along the way. One can see by the detailed chronology of Brian Jones: The Making of the Rolling Stones that this was a young man who needed intervention. Some people tried to befriend him, but he apparently never came close to the kind of psychological help that he needed. One is left wondering why.

Jones died by drowning in a swimming pool. He was one of the long list of musicians who dropped out by death at the age of 27. The author considers, and dismisses, speculation that Brian was murdered. This was a young star who was simply a victim of his own reckless living. It is a story worth reading. ( )

I really like reading biographies to see how things began and how they got to where they are/were. This book is no exception. I know about the Rolling Stones, but I knew nothing of their beginnings with a man named Brian Jones. This book feels like the author feels he has to protect Brian Jones and clear up some misconceptions about him. But that doesn't mean that the author sugarcoats or downplays Brian Jones' faults. He clearly states that Brian Jones definitely contributed to his downfall.

The book is told in an engaging manner. If you are a fan of biographies, the Rolling Stones, or the origins of their type of music, then this is the book for you.

***I received this book as part of Goodreads Member Giveaways. The opinions are solely my own.*** ( )

Such a tragic story in many ways, that being said, shows the rise of a very promising musician. Brian Jones came from an "affection free", middle class home. Highly intelligent, he found an outlet in music, greatly influenced by jazz, he learned to play the guitar and play it very well. It was at this time his family turned their backs on him, considering jazz to be "the beatnik horror" of music. Brian strove to be the best musician he could be and achieved just that. He helped to form and was a part of The Rolling Stones. There was a constant competition between Brian and Mick, each trying to one up the other. Unfortunately, just as the band was really coming into its own, and started riding the charts, Brian lost his life.
I was sent this novel as a 'first read' for an honest review from Goodreads. I gave it three stars because I found the first two chapters a struggle to hold my attention. However, the story did pick up after that and became more interesting, and informative. ( )