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May 16 through the years showed how The Rolling Stones could turn virtually any moment—whether triumphant, chaotic, psychedelic, or delayed by circumstance—into part of their ever-growing mythology. From tearing through packed theaters in Edmonton and Long Beach to watching Mick Jagger absorb the lush brilliance of Pet Sounds alongside members of The Beach Boys, the date repeatedly captured the band at creative and personal crossroads. Songs likeShe’s a Rainbow soon emerged from the gloriously unhinged sessions for Their Satanic Majesties Request, while later years brought rehab clinics, scandals, survival stories, and somehow even tour postponements turned into global headlines. By May 16, 2019, the Stones were still proving their strange superpower: pause an entire stadium run like the No Filter Tour, disappear into uncertainty for weeks, then return with rescheduled dates and make it feel less like a setback and more like another episode in the longest-running rock saga on earth.
May 16, 1964: Regal Theatre, Edmonton, London (2 shows)
May 16, 1965: Arena, Long Beach, CA, USA
May 16, 1966: Mick Jagger and Andrew Loog Oldham pay a memorable visit to Bruce Johnston at his hotel room in London, , where Johnston enthusiastically introduces them to the newly released Pet Sounds album by The Beach Boys. The intimate listening session became one of those legendary behind-the-scenes moments in 1960s rock history, as the album’s sophisticated harmonies, emotional depth, and groundbreaking production left a strong impression on everyone in the room. At the time the album was already beginning to reshape the possibilities of pop music, influencing fellow musicians with its orchestral arrangements and deeply personal songwriting. For Mick and Oldham, hearing the record firsthand from Johnston offered a direct glimpse into the creative leap The Beach Boys were making, during a period when friendly rivalry and mutual inspiration between major bands pushed rock music into entirely new territory.
In early 1967 the Stones hit Olympic Studios in London to start work on what would become their most psychedelic and experimental album, Their Satanic Majesties Request. Fresh off the chaos of drug busts and media backlash, the band decided to push boundaries—and then some. With Andrew Loog Oldham stepping off as producer the Stones were on their own, often drifting through long, unfocused sessions filled with acid trips, weird instruments, and general studio madness.
Mick, Keith, Brian, Charlie, and Bill dabbled in mellotron, theremin, and tons of studio effects, diving headfirst into the sounds of the time. Songs like Citadel, 2000 Man andShe’s a Rainbow came out of these wild Olympic jam sessions, blending rock with swirling textures and oddball lyrics. Brian Jones especially took the opportunity to show off his multi-instrumental chops.
It wasn’t all smooth—some sessions were chaotic or delayed, and the album lacked the tight production of earlier work. But the Olympic sessions captured a unique, adventurous spirit. It was the Stones’ trippiest era, and while Satanic Majestiesdivided fans, it remains a fascinating document of the band stepping into the unknown, lit up by the vibe of 1967.
May 16, 1977: Keith Richards and Anita Pallenberg are seen by Dr. Anita Stevens for psychiatric evaluation and treatment at the Stevens Psychiatric Centre in New York City, beginning what would become a prolonged period of care under her supervision. Stevens, a New York City-based psychiatrist, played a significant role in Richards’ life during the late 1970s, particularly as he struggled with heroin addiction and the mounting consequences of his chaotic lifestyle. She was brought in to help evaluate and treat the guitarist following his highly publicized drug arrests in Toronto, incidents that threatened not only his health but also the future of the Stones themselves.
May 16, 2019: In classic Rolling Stones fashion, even a postponed tour became a major rock event. On this day the band officially unveiled the rescheduled dates for the North American leg of the No Filter Tour, confirming the tour would finally kick off on June 21 after weeks of uncertainty. Fans who had spent months refreshing ticket pages and speculating online suddenly had new hope—and probably slightly lighter wallets again. The announcement also proved something the Stones have mastered for decades: few bands can pause an entire stadium tour, survive the chaos, and still make their return feel less like damage control and more like the next chapter of rock history.
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