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The Rolling Stones Hit TV for the First Time in 1963
From the book Old Gods Almost Dead: The 40-Year Odyssey of the Rolling Stones, by Stephen Davis (2001) Birmingham, Sunday, July 7 1963. The Rolling Stones appeared smiling nervously on TV for the first time (Lucky Stars Summer Spin), miming to a tape of Come On in their juvenile black-velvet-collared checked suits, last on a bill with half a dozen now-forgotten acts. Mick shook his Beatles-cut hair and twitched espastically as the studio crew on in horror. Critics in the papers began to compare the Stones unfavorably to the more charming Beatles. Words like “apes” and “cavemen” were deployed in an ultimately successful effort to brand the Stones as the ugly, thuggish flip side of the sunny and engaging lads from Liverpool. Andrew thought this was brilliant and encouraged it, to the dismay of the Stones’ families.
The Rolling Stones Record Come On and Chase Their First Hit
*By Marcelo Sonaglioni In early May 1963, The Rolling Stones entered the legendary Olympic Studios on Carton Street in London’s West End to record their debut single, a cover of Chuck Berry’s Come On. At just 1 minute and 45 seconds, it was typical of the beat group singles emerging in the wake of The Beatles’ success, but it was far from the blues-driven material the band had been performing in London’s club scene. The single was released on June 7, prompting Decca Records and the band’s management to urgently push for TV appearances to promote it.
The Rolling Stones TV Debut: Thank Your Lucky Stars and Early Fame
The ideal platform was Thank Your Lucky Stars, the most prominent pop show on British television at the time. The producers agreed to have the band perform, and the group traveled to Alpha Studios in Aston, Birmingham, on July 7, 1963, to record their appearance.
Thank Your Lucky Stars had first aired in 1961, competing directly with the BBC’s Juke Box Jury. The show’s format was predictably safe, featuring weekly performances by singers and bands who mimed to their latest hits in a staged and somewhat rigid set. Despite its formulaic nature, TYLS was a crucial platform for emerging bands like The Rolling Stones, marking an important milestone in their rise to fame. (Ref. The Rolling Stones TV debut)
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