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The Rolling Stones Book: The Monthly Publication Every Fan Wanted
Between 1964 and 1966, the Stones issued THE ROLLING STONES BOOK (also known as The Rolling Stones Monthly Book), the equivalent of the Beatles’ The Beatles Monthly Book, as well produced by British publishing company Beat Publications Ltd. The first issue came out on June 10 1964, and continued to be published monthly until November 1966, with a total of 30 numbers. Each one featured approximately thirty pages (size 8 X 6.25 inches) containing updated information about the group, as well as exclusive photos, interviews, song lyrics, etc. The Beatles Monthly Book closed down temporarily in the early ’70s, but it was revived later, first reprinting the originals, but then as a launching pad for UK Record Collector magazine, and finally shutting up in January 2003, while The Rolling Stones Book had only the original edition.
A monthly window into the Rolling Stones
As The Rolling Stones rapidly evolved from London’s club circuit to international stardom, fans had few reliable ways to keep up with the band’s activities. Social media and official websites were decades away, making printed fan publications an essential source of news. To satisfy growing demand, Beat Publications Ltd. launched The Rolling Stones Book, also known as The Rolling Stones Monthly Book, on June 10, 1964. Produced in a format similar to The Beatles Monthly Book, each issue measured approximately 8 × 6.25 inches and ran to around 30 pages filled with exclusive photographs, interviews, lyrics, tour reports, and the latest news surrounding the band. Published every month until November 1966, the series ultimately comprised 30 issues, documenting one of the most transformative periods in the Stones’ early career.
Those years saw the group release landmark albums such as The Rolling Stones No. 2, Out of Our Heads, December’s Children (And Everybody’s)andAftermath, while worldwide hits propelled them to the top of the charts. As the band’s popularity exploded on both sides of the Atlantic, each new issue gave readers a behind-the-scenes look at a career moving at remarkable speed.
A collectible snapshot of the 1960s
Beyond simple fan coverage, The Rolling Stones Book has become an invaluable historical record of the band’s formative years. Every edition captured the excitement surrounding new singles, recording sessions, television appearances, tours, and changing fashions, preserving the atmosphere of the mid-1960s as it unfolded. Long before coffee-table books and deluxe box sets became common, these compact magazines provided fans with a regular connection to the group, often featuring exclusive material unavailable elsewhere.
Unlike its Beatles counterpart, The Rolling Stones Book never returned after publication ended. The Beatles Monthly Book was temporarily discontinued during the early 1970s before being revived to reprint the original issues, later helping launch UK Record Collector magazine, and finally ending publication in January 2003. In contrast, The Rolling Stones Book remained a product of its era, limited entirely to its original 1964–1966 run. That exclusivity has made surviving copies highly sought after by collectors, offering an authentic glimpse into the years when the Rolling Stones established themselves as one of rock’s defining bands.
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Stones Data on Substack
