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‘Thank Your Lucky Stars’, The Rolling Stones’ First TV Moment
July 7, 1963: The Stones first television appearance ever, on British TV’s Thank Your Lucky Stars (‘Lucky Stars Summer Spin’), playing Come On(lip synching it actually, to be broadcast later on July 13)
More about The Rolling Stones’ first TV appearance
*By Marcelo Sonaglioni
In early May 1963 The Rolling Stones found themselves at London’s Olympic Studios on Carton Street, preparing to record their very first single: a cover of Chuck Berry’s Come On. The track, clocking in at just 1 minute and 45 seconds, was a short, punchy beat group song, fitting in with the trend of many British pop singles following The Beatles’ success. However, it was a far cry from the blues tunes the band had been playing in London’s club scene. Released on June 7, the single marked the beginning of their recording career, but promoting it posed a significant challenge. The Stones, still an emerging band, were eager to get their faces in front of British television audiences, and Decca Records, along with their management, scrambled to secure a slot on TV to promote the single.
Preparing for Their TV Debut: A Clash of Styles
The most logical option for their television debut was Thank Your Lucky Stars, the leading pop program on British television at the time. The show’s format was straightforward—artists would mime to their latest tracks on a predictable, somewhat staid set. Thank Your Lucky Stars was a regular fixture on TV, offering pop acts a safe space to promote their latest work. The Rolling Stones were scheduled to appear on the show on July 7, 1963, with their performance airing on July 13. However, there was an immediate problem: the band’s distinctive, rebellious style wasn’t exactly in line with the clean-cut image that TV producers were used to. Andrew Loog Oldham, their manager, recalled that if the Stones dressed in their usual fashion, they would never be allowed into the TV studio. The solution? A trip to Soho for a proper shopping spree.
A Stylish Transformation for Television
To make sure the band met the TV appearance dress code, Oldham took the Stones to Carnaby Street a few weeks before their debut on Thank Your Lucky Stars. There, they were measured for new outfits—black trousers, black and white dogtooth jackets with velvet collars, blue shirts, black knit ties, and even blue leather waistcoats. Although this look was far more polished than their typical attire, it still carried a hint of their rebellious edge. The Stones were ready for their first television appearance—though, of course, their hair was far from the neat, clean style the producers may have preferred.
Just two days before the appearance, on July 5, the Stones performed at The Ricky Tick Club at the Star and Garter Hotel in Windsor. This gig was part of their whirlwind schedule, which included canceling a performance in King’s Lynn to make the long drive to Birmingham. On the evening of their Thank Your Lucky Stars debut, the band performed Come On, miming to the track in front of a set that resembled a Wild West saloon. Their new dogtooth jackets made them look notably sharp, but their untamed hair remained a trademark of their defiant image. After their performance, the show’s host, Pete Murray, jokingly commented that a delegation from the Hairdresser’s Union wanted to speak with the band for their apparent lack of haircuts.
The Impact of Their TV Debut
The Stones’ TV appearance helped elevate Come On and just over two weeks later, the single climbed to No. 32 on the charts. It wasn’t a chart-topping hit, but it marked a significant milestone in the band’s career, offering the first glimpse of the Rolling Stones as pop stars with a rebellious flair. Their Thank Your Lucky Stars appearance set the stage for the band’s rise to fame, showing that even with their unrefined image and unconventional style, they were ready to take the music world by storm.
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