To order...

Click below for Foundation Stone - The Legacy Tracks eBook in epub format at £1.99p.

Click below for Foundation Stone - The Legacy Tracks eBook in mobi format at £1.99p.

Click on News for up-to-date information on the Third Edition.

The Influences & Shaping of Brian Jones - Founder of the Rolling Stones

by Graham Ride

   Bill Wyman in his interesting book 'Stone Alone' said "Brian [Jones] was the inventor and inspiration of the Rolling Stones." He goes on to highlight the fact that Brian was instrumental in the shaping of sixties sounds and attitudes and that this was "... traceable to his own roots and frustrations." 'Foundation Stone' deals intimately with those roots and frustrations.

   Stanley Booth's fascinating and evocative book 'The True Adventures of The Rolling Stones' states that Brian was introduced to the blues by the Champion Jack Dupree album 'Blues from the Gutter'... but who introduced him to that record? 'Foundation Stone' will tell you.

   Laura Jackson in her book 'Golden Stone' writes "In the end Brian shared with an architectural student called Graham Ride who, like him, was an alto-saxophonist. Pleased to have the company of a kindred spirit, especially since Graham's allegiances, like his own, had jumped from trad jazz to the rawer, less disciplined music called rhythm and blues, Brian was in his element."

   But crucially nearer to the truth is the subtle difference portrayed on the web site http://members.tripod.com/~redrooster_2/history.html which states "After many odd jobs, Brian moved into a flat with his friend Graham Ride, a kindred spirit, who introduced to Brian a new obsession. He had jumped from trad jazz to the rawer, less disciplined music called Rhythm and Blues. His new passion was all eclipsing."

   The author of 'Foundation Stone' is that same Graham Ride who for the first time reveals a unique testament of the last ten months Rolling Stones' founder Brian Jones spent in his home town of Cheltenham before going up to 'the Smoke' (London) as a Chicago Blues style evangelist. Graham sets the record straight on several issues and lifts the lid on the true musical influences of Brian Jones and their way of life before fame and fortune beckoned.

• How did Brian first get hooked on Urban Blues?
• Read about who punched Brian and why.
• Why did Brian threaten to jump out of an upstairs window?
• Learn where Brian first played the Blues in public.
• Who were his real musical influences?
• Learn more about his women and children.
• What was Brian's attitude to drugs?
• Find out about his first 'steel'.
• Read about Brian's meetings with Alexis Korner.
• Why did Graham wait so long to write this book?