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Rolling Stones Quotes: Alexis Korner on meeting Brian Jones
“Brian used to come up on the weekends and I’d say, ‘Look, man, stick it out till you’ve got a bit of bread and then come to London’. I’d met Brian because while I was working with the Chris Barber band doing odd concerts – we played one in Cheltenham and Brian came up to me after the concert and asked if he could speak to me. That’s how we got together. He used to show up at the Ealing Club on weekends and occasionally play a bit. Brian couldn’t stand Cheltenham. He simply loathed Cheltenham. He couldn’t stand the restrictions imposed by his family on his thinking and on his general behavior. That’s when he came to London, just ‘bang’ like that.”
Alexis Korner: The Man Who Helped Kickstart The Rolling Stones
If there’s one person who deserves credit for helping The Rolling Stones get their start, it’s Alexis Korner. A key figure in the British blues scene, Korner was a mentor to countless musicians in the early ’60s, including Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Brian Jones. His band, Blues Incorporated, was like a training ground for future rock legends, and his club gigs became a gathering spot for young blues enthusiasts looking to jam and learn.
In 1962, when Brian Jones was putting together what would become The Rolling Stones, Korner’s influence was undeniable. He introduced them to the right people, let them sit in on his gigs, and gave them a place to develop their sound. Mick and Keith, who had been blues fanatics for years, found in Korner a living connection to the music they loved.
Korner was never a mainstream star, but his impact on British rock can’t be overstated. Without his guidance and support, The Rolling Stones—and many other legendary bands—might never have found their footing. While he stayed in the background, his love for the blues helped shape the future of rock and roll. The Stones may have taken it global, but Korner lit the fuse.
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