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Today in Rolling Stones history: June 2

*Click for DAILY ROLLING STONES CHRONOLOGY 1962-present

June 2 is one of those dates that proves The Rolling Stones never really had an “ordinary” day. While fans commemorate Charlie Watts’ birthday, the band’s timeline veers through film premieres, secret weddings, airport scandals, marathon concerts, and the 12″ release of one of their biggest hits, Miss You. Somewhere along the way, Keith Richards picks up a Songwriters Hall of Fame award, Bo Diddley leaves behind a legacy that helped shape the Stones’ sound, and former members keep popping up in unexpected places. Rock history likes to pretend it follows a script. June 2 suggests otherwise—and that’s exactly why it’s worth revisiting.

Happy birthday Charlie Boy!
Read: June 2: Happy Birthday in Heaven Charlie Watts!

June 2, 1963: Studio 51, Ken Colyer Jazz Club, London, England

June 2, 1966: Keith Richards attends the premiere of Roman Polanski’s film Cul-de-sac at the Cameo-Poly in London
Read more (plus video): The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards at Roman Polanski’s 1966 Film Premiere — Rare Archive Moment

June 2, 1967: Release of The Gods‘ 7″ single Come On Down To My Boat Baby / Garage Man (with Mick Taylor as band member)

After being a member of The Juniors, Taylor’s is profile rose when he joined the local band The Gods, formed in 1965. The lineup also included Brian Glascock, his brother John Glascock and Ken Hensley. By 1967 Taylor had left, and the group went through several lineup changes, with musicians like Lee Kerslake, Paul Newton and Greg Lake briefly joining and departing between 1967 and 1969.

June 2, 1969: Release of The Jeff Beck Group‘s 7″ single Plynth (Water Down The Drain) / Jailhouse Rock (with Ronnie Wood as band member)

A moody Jeff Beck Group recording featuring Rod Stewart, Nicky Hopkins and Ron Wood that blends blues with early fusion energy, driven by gritty guitar riffs and tight rhythm interplay, captured in 1969 London, showcasing sophisticated arrangements, melancholic lyrics and experimental approach set apart from contemporaries.

June 2, 1971: On the day Charlie Watts turned 30, his wife Shirley Watts was reportedly arrested at Nice airport in France after an incident in which she allegedly assaulted an airport official. The episode added a controversial footnote to what was otherwise a personal milestone in Watts’ life.

June 2, 1976: Sporthalle, Cologne, West Germany (2 shows) (Tour of Europe ’76)
1st show: Honky Tonk Women/If You Can’t Rock Me-Get Off Of My Cloud/Hand Of Fate/Hey Negrita/Ain’t Too Proud To Beg/Fool To Cry/Hot Stuff/Star Star/You Gotta Move/Band introduction/Happy/Nothing From Nothing/Outa Space/Midnight Rambler/It’s Only Rock’n Roll/Brown Sugar/Jumpin’ Jack Flash/Street Fighting Man

2nd show: Honky Tonk Women/If You Can’t Rock Me-Get Off Of My Cloud/Hand Of Fate/Hey Negrita/Ain’t Too Proud To Beg/Fool To Cry/Hot Stuff/Star Star/You Gotta Move/You Can’t Always Get What You Want/Band introduction/Happy/Tumbling Dice/Nothing From Nothing/Outa Space/Midnight Rambler/It’s Only Rock’n Roll/Brown Sugar/Jumpin’ Jack Flash/Street Fighting Man

June 2, 1978: Release of the Miss You / Far Away Eyes 12″ maxi-single (Rolling Stones Records 12 EMI 2802)

By the late 1970s the Stones were navigating punk disruption and disco dominance, tensions fueling one of their biggest hits, Miss You (from the Some Girls album, 1978), where Mick Jagger channels urban loneliness, restless nights and emotional emptiness. This remix was theband’s first official 12″ single, with some copies even released on pink vinyl.

As for Far Away Eyes, also on Some Girls, the Stones deliver a Bakersfield-inspired track, blending stripped-down country rock pioneered by Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. Keith Richards adds acoustic strumming and twangy electric guitar, Ron Wood on pedal steel, with Richards and Jagger also contributing piano textures throughout the song.

June 2, 1989: Bill Wyman secretly marries 19-year-old Mandy Smith, with his 28-year-old son serving as best man and all other Rolling Stones attending. The controversial marriage drew attention and quickly unraveled, lasting only 17 months before ending in separation and becoming one of the band’s most talked-about personal stories.
Read: A Rolling Stone’s Surprise: Bill Wyman’s Unexpected Wedding (video, 1989)

June 2, 1990: Olympiastadion, Munich, West-Germany (Urban Jungle Tour)
Start Me Up/Sad Sad Sad/Harlem Shuffle/Tumbling Dice/Miss You/Almost Hear You Sigh/ Ruby Tuesday/ Factory Girl/Rock And A Hard Place/Mixed Emotions/Honky Tonk Women/Midnight Rambler/ You Can’t Always Get What You Want/Little Red Rooster/ Can’t Be Seen/Happy/Paint It Black/2000 Light Years From Home/Sympathy For The Devil/Street Fighting Man/Gimme Shelter/ Band introduction/It’s Only Rock’n Roll/Brown Sugar/Satisfaction/Jumpin’ Jack Flash

June 2, 1993: Keith Richards accepts an award in New York on behalf of himself and Mick Jagger after their induction into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame, joining legends like Bob Dylan (1982) and Lennon–McCartney (1987), cementing The Rolling Stones’ status among the most influential songwriting forces in modern music history.
Keith: “The trophy was signed by Sammy Kahn, one of the best songwriters of the 20th century. On his deathbed he said, I want to include Keith in the Hall of Fame. I found that really touching, and I am in good company there – Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and many more”

June 2, 1999: Drafbaan Stadspark, Groningen, Netherlands (Bridges to Babylon Tour, European leg continued)
Jumpin’ Jack Flash/You Got Me Rocking/Bitch/Respectable/Gimme Shelter/Honky Tonk Women/Angie/Saint Of Me/Out Of Control/Paint It Black/Band introduction/Before They Make Me Run/Thief In The Night/Route 66/Like A Rolling Stone/Midnight Rambler/Sympathy For The Devil/Tumbling Dice/It’s Only Rock’n Roll/Start Me Up/Brown Sugar/(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

June 2, 2008: Death of Bo Diddley, wich marked the loss of one of the most influential musicians in popular music history. His distinctive rhythm, groundbreaking guitar style, and energetic stage presence helped shape rock and roll and inspired generations of artists. For the Stones Bo Diddley was a foundational influence, with his music deeply embedded in their early sound. His impact extended far beyond the band, leaving a lasting imprint on countless musicians across rock, blues, and popular music.

June 2, 2012: Ronnie Wood and Bill Wyman, joined by Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall and other guests, take part in a testimonial concert honoring British snooker legend Jimmy White at Grosvenor House in London, England. The event brought together musicians and friends for a celebratory night recognizing White’s career and enduring popularity.
Line-up: Ronnie wood (guitar, vocals)/Bill Wyman (bass)/Mick Hucknall (vocals)/Andy Wallace and Geraint Watkins (keyboards)/Andy Newmark (drums)
Read more: Jimmy White Testimonial (from billwyman.com)

June 2, 2018: Ricoh Stadium, Coventry, England. The show marked The Rolling Stones’ first performance in Warwickshire since 1971, ending a gap of more than four decades and giving local fans a rare opportunity to see the band return to the county.
Street Fighting Man/It’s Only Rock’n Roll/Tumbling Dice/Paint It Black/Ride ‘Em On Down/Like A Rolling Stone/Dead Flowers/You Can’t Always Get What You Want/Honky Tonk Women/Band introduction/You Got The Silver/Happy/Sympathy For The Devil/Miss You/Midnight Rambler/Start Me Up/Jumpin’ Jack Flash/Brown Sugar/Gimme Shelter/Satisfaction
All pictures from IORR

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