View source for Brian Jones

{{short description|British musician (1942–1969)}}
{{Other people}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Brian Jones
| image             = Brian-Jones-1965 (cropped).jpg
| caption           = Jones in 1965
| birth_name        = Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones
| alias             = Elmo Lewis
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1942|2|28|df=yes}}
| birth_place       = [[Cheltenham]], Gloucestershire, England
| death_date        = {{death date and age|1969|7|3|1942|2|28|df=yes}}
| death_place       = [[Hartfield]], East Sussex, England
| death_cause = [[Drowning]]
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Rock music|Rock]]|[[blues]]|[[World music|world]]}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter|record producer}}
| instrument        = {{hlist|Guitar|harmonica|saxophone|percussion|vocals}}
| years_active      = 1957–1969
| past_member_of    = {{hlist|[[The Rolling Stones]]|[[Master Musicians of Joujouka]]}}
}}

'''Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones''' (28 February 1942 – 3 July 1969) was an English musician and one of the founders of [[the Rolling Stones]].{{sfn|Wyman|Coleman|1997|pp=24, 76, 93, 101–18}} Initially a [[slide guitar]]ist, he went on to sing backing vocals and played a wide variety of instruments on Rolling Stones recordings and in concerts.

After he founded the Rolling Stones as a [[British blues]] outfit in 1962 and gave the band its name, Jones's fellow band members [[Keith Richards]] and [[Mick Jagger]] began to take over the band's musical direction, especially after they became a successful [[Jagger–Richards|songwriting team]].

When Jones developed alcohol and drug problems, his performance in the studio became increasingly unreliable, leading to a diminished role within the band he had founded. In June 1969, the Rolling Stones dismissed Jones; guitarist [[Mick Taylor]] took his place in the group. Less than a month later, Jones died by drowning at the [[27 Club|age of 27]] in the swimming pool at his home at [[Cotchford Farm]], East Sussex. His death was referenced in songs by many other pop bands, and [[Pete Townshend]] and [[Jim Morrison]] wrote poems about it. In 1989, he was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] as a member of the Rolling Stones.

==Biography==
===Early life===
Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones<ref>{{cite web |title=Brian Jones |url=http://www.rollingstones.com/artist/brian-jones/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413223509/http://www.rollingstones.com/artist/brian-jones/ |archive-date=13 April 2015 |access-date=30 January 2015 |website=The Rolling Stones.com |publisher=The Rolling Stones}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Barnard |first=Stephen |title=The Rolling Stones: Street Fighting Years |date=1993 |publisher=BDD Illustrated Books |isbn=978-0-7924-5801-2 |page=22}}</ref> was born in the Park Nursing Home in [[Cheltenham]], Gloucestershire, on Saturday, 28 February 1942.{{sfn|Jackson|1992|p=3}} An attack of [[croup]] at the age of four left Jones with [[asthma]] that lasted for the rest of his life. His middle-class parents, Lewis Blount Jones and Louisa Beatrice Jones (''[[given name|née]]'' Simmonds), were of Welsh descent. Brian had two sisters: Pamela, who was born on 3 October 1943<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?r=187542411:2795&d=bmd_1689976433 | title=FreeBMD Entry Info }}</ref> and died on 14 October 1945 of [[leukaemia]]; and Barbara, who was born on 22 August 1946.{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|pp=10, 16}}

Jones attended local schools, including [[Dean Close School]] from September 1949 to July 1953; and [[Pate's Grammar School|Cheltenham Grammar School for Boys]], (now [[Pate's Grammar School]]) which he entered in September 1953 after passing the [[eleven-plus]] exam. He enjoyed badminton and [[diving (sport)|diving]] at school and became first clarinet in the school orchestra. Jones reportedly obtained seven [[O-levels|O-level]] passes in 1957, thence continuing into the [[sixth form]] and obtaining a further two O-levels. He passed [[A-levels]] in [[physics]] and [[chemistry]], but he failed in [[biology]].{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|p=19}}

Jones was able to perform well in exams despite a lack of academic effort. However, he found school regimented and disliked school uniforms and [[conformism]] in general; Jones himself said: "When I made the sixth form, I found myself accepted by the older boys; suddenly I was in." His hostility to authority figures resulted in his suspension from school on two occasions. According to Dick Hattrell, a childhood friend, "He was a rebel without a cause, but when examinations came he was brilliant."{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|p=19}}

Both Jones's parents were interested in music; his father was a piano teacher in addition to his job as an [[aeronautical engineer]], and his mother played the piano and organ and led the [[choir]] at the local church.{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|pp=10, 16}} Jones listened to classical music as a child but preferred [[blues]], particularly [[Elmore James]] and [[Robert Johnson (musician)|Robert Johnson]]. In 1957, he first heard [[Cannonball Adderley]]'s music and took an interest in [[jazz]]. Jones persuaded his parents to buy him a saxophone, and two years later, his parents gave him his first acoustic guitar as a 17th birthday present.{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|p=23}} Jones began performing at local blues and jazz clubs while [[busking]] and working odd jobs. He reportedly stole small amounts of money from work to pay for cigarettes, for which he was sacked.{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|pp=35–36}}

=== Relationships and fatherhood ===
Jones's first child was born in 1958 to a female friend. The baby, of unknown sex, was given up for [[adoption]] and, in contrast to Jones's other children, has either not learned of the relationship to Jones, or has not publicly identified themself as Jones's child.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Sympathy for the Devil: The Birth of the Rolling Stones and the Death of Brian Jones |last=Trynka |first=Paul |publisher=9781448154050 |year=2014 |pages=38 |isbn=978-1-4481-5405-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nkPLAwAAQBAJ |author-link=Paul Trynka}}</ref>

In the summer of 1959, Jones's girlfriend – a Cheltenham schoolgirl named Valerie Corbett – became pregnant. Although Jones purportedly encouraged her to have an abortion, she carried the child to term, giving birth on 29 May 1960 and naming him Barry David.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Sympathy for the Devil: The Birth of the Rolling Stones and the Death of Brian Jones |last=Trynka |first=Paul |publisher=9781448154050 |year=2014 |pages=47 |isbn=978-1-4481-5405-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nkPLAwAAQBAJ |author-link=Paul Trynka}}</ref> She soon placed the baby for adoption.{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|p=19}} The adoptive parents renamed the boy Simon.<ref name="Trynka 2014 358">{{Cite book |title=Sympathy for the Devil: The Birth of the Rolling Stones and the Death of Brian Jones |last=Trynka |first=Paul |publisher=9781448154050 |year=2014 |pages=358 |isbn=978-1-4481-5405-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nkPLAwAAQBAJ |author-link=Paul Trynka}}</ref> During this period, Jones lived a [[Bohemianism|bohemian]] lifestyle abroad, [[Street performance|busking]] with his guitar on the streets for money and living off the charity of others. Eventually, he ran short of money and returned to England.{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|p=28}}

In November 1959, Jones went to the Wooden Bridge Hotel in [[Guildford]] to see a band perform. He met a young married woman named Angeline, and the two had a [[one-night stand]] that resulted in her pregnancy. Angeline and her husband decided to raise the baby, Belinda,<ref>{{Cite book |title=Sympathy for the Devil: The Birth of the Rolling Stones and the Death of Brian Jones |last=Trynka |first=Paul |publisher=9781448154050 |year=2014 |pages=72 |isbn=978-1-4481-5405-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nkPLAwAAQBAJ |author-link=Paul Trynka}}</ref> born on 4 August 1960. Jones never knew about the pregnancy or her birth.{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|p=28}}{{Efn|Wyman uses the pseudonym "Carol" for Belinda in his book ''Stone Alone''.{{sfn|Wyman|Coleman|1997|p=174}}}}

In 1961, Jones applied for a scholarship to [[Cheltenham Art College]]. He was initially accepted, but the offer was withdrawn two days later after an unidentified acquaintance wrote to the college, calling Jones "an irresponsible [[vagrant|drifter]]". Later that year, on 22 October, Jones's girlfriend Pat Andrews gave birth to his fourth known child, Julian Mark Andrews (known as Mark).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?r=224282526:6792&d=bmd_1689976433 |title=FreeBMD Entry Info }}</ref> Jones moved in with them and sold his record collection to buy flowers for Andrews and clothes for the newborn.<ref>{{cite web |title=Just Who Was Brian Jones? |url=https://www.brianjonesfanclub.com/index.php/articles/just-who-was-brian-jones |publisher=Brian Jones Fan Club |access-date=29 August 2020 |archive-date=26 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226061239/https://www.brianjonesfanclub.com/index.php/articles/just-who-was-brian-jones |url-status=live }}</ref> In a television interview Andrews stated that in the early days of their relationship, although she and Jones were both working, his interest in the guitar meant he did not have much money to buy food or anything beyond paying the rent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pat Andrews With Her Son Mark (Brian Jones was the father) (circa 1964) - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8OANZg8_iE&t=2s |access-date=9 February 2021 |website=youtube.com |date=19 February 2012 }}</ref> According to Andrews, Jones was initially proud of Mark, but when the Rolling Stones acquired a manager, Jones was instructed not to be seen with either mother or child. Jones agreed she said, telling her she would have to "put up with it for a few months" until the band had had some success. However, once the Stones did become successful, she noted Jones "just seemed to drift away", becoming more interested in famous people he met, and that she "never received a penny from Brian at all".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pat Andrews With Her Son Mark (Brian Jones was the father) (circa 1964) - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8OANZg8_iE&t=2s |access-date=9 February 2021 |website=www.youtube.com |date=19 February 2012 }}</ref> In the same interview, Andrews also noted she felt sorry for Jones as "he just uses people".<ref>[[BBC Arena]]: S49, E3; The Stones and Brian Jones, 2023</ref>

In early 1963, Jones began a relationship with [[Linda Lawrence]]. On 23 July 1964, Lawrence gave birth to Jones's fifth child, Julian Brian Lawrence.{{sfn|Jackson|1992|p=93}} Lawrence later married Scottish folk/pop singer [[Donovan]]. They raised Julian together, changing his name to Julian Leitch.

In early October 1964, Jones's occasional girlfriend, Dawn Molloy, announced to Jones and the Rolling Stones' management that she was pregnant by him. She received a cheque for £700 ({{Inflation|UK|700|1964|2023|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}){{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} from group manager [[Andrew Loog Oldham]]. In return, she signed an agreement that the matter was now closed and that she would make no statement about Jones or the child to the public or the press. The undated statement was signed by Molloy and witnessed by [[Mick Jagger]].{{sfn|Wyman|Coleman|1997|p=261}} Molloy eventually gave the boy, whom she named Paul Andrew, up for adoption, and his new parents renamed him John Maynard.<ref name="Trynka 2014 358"/>

In 1965, Jones met German singer [[Nico]] and began a three-month relationship with her. Jones introduced Nico to [[Andy Warhol]] and recommended she show him her music; through this she later received her role in [[The Velvet Underground]]. She became pregnant during the affair but decided to have an abortion in London that same year. The two remained friends.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Nico: Life And Lies Of An Icon |last=Witts |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Witts|publisher=Ebury Publishing |year=1993 |isbn=9780863696558 |pages=122 |quote=She had just undergone an abortion in London, having discovered she was pregnant by Brian Jones.}}</ref>

A year later, while on tour, Jones met Italian-German model and actress [[Anita Pallenberg]] backstage and began a significant relationship with her. Jones became extremely [[domestic abuse|abusive]], at one point breaking his hand on Pallenberg's face.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/why-anita-pallenberg-rolling-stones-muse-was-queen-of-the-underground-204744/ |title=Why Anita Pallenberg, Rolling Stones Muse, Was Queen of the Underground |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=14 June 2017}}</ref> In 1967, Pallenberg left Jones for his bandmate Keith Richards, which added to tensions between the bandmates.

Jones had subsequent relationships with English model [[Suki Potier]] and Swedish seamstress Anna Wohlin, as well as a short relationship in 1968 with American model [[Donyale Luna]], who appeared with him in the concert film ''[[The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus]]'' several months before his death. Wohlin was living with Jones in 1969 when he died and has written two books about her time with him.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wohlin |first=Anna |title=The murder of Brian Jones : the secret story of my love affair with the murdered Rolling Stone |date=1999 |publisher=Blake |others=Lindsjoo, Christine |isbn=978-1-85782-316-5 |location=London |oclc=42640160}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Wohlin |first=Anna |title=The wild and wicked world of Brian Jones: the amazing true story of my love affair with the murdered Rolling Stone |date=2005 |publisher=Blake |isbn=978-1-85782-567-1 |location=London |oclc=65201079}}</ref> Wohlin has stated that during his last year Jones had expressed immense guilt over not being there for his children. He wished to start over and become a "real father" and raise future children in the house he had bought. He also wished for his sons, who had not been adopted away by their mothers, Mark and Julian, to come and live in the house.<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Brian Jones dog i hennes armar |url=https://sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/1533281 |date=29 August 2020 |last=Malmstedt |first=Lotta |type=radio documentary |language=Swedish |publisher=[[Sveriges Radio]] |trans-title=Brian Jones died in her arms |others=Anna Wohlin |orig-date=2008 |place=Sweden |work=P4 Dokumentär |volume= |series=[[Sveriges Radio P4|P4]] |time=09:03-10:01 |access-date=23 February 2024}}</ref>

Jones's youngest known child is a daughter named Barbara Anna Marion, born in 1969 to Elizabeth, a married American woman who raised the girl with her husband. Barbara has appeared in a 2019 documentary about Jones's death.<ref name=Afton>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/a/b5ewek/nya-bevis-i-dokumentar-brian-jones-blev-mordad |title=Nya bevis i dokumentär: Brian Jones blev mördad |date=1 August 2019 |access-date=16 December 2023 |website=[[Aftonbladet]] |last1=Nordh |first1=Christina |last2=Hartelius |first2=Alex}}</ref>

Wohlin stated in her first book that she [[miscarried]] a girl in August 1969. She has referred to the baby as Johanna, a name she and Jones had picked out previously for when they had a daughter while planning for a family.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Murder of Brian Jones: The Secret Story of My Love Affair with the Murdered Rolling Stone |last=Wohlin |first=Anna |publisher=Blake |year=2000 |isbn=9781857823349 |location=London |pages=249 |language=En |url=https://archive.org/details/murderofbrianjon00wohl |via= [[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>

===Forming the Rolling Stones===
[[File:Brian Jones, Statesboro, Georgia, May 4, 1965 (377872218).jpg|thumb|upright|Jones backstage in May 1965]]
Jones left Cheltenham and moved to London, where he became friends with fellow musicians [[Alexis Korner]], future [[Manfred Mann]] singer [[Paul Jones (singer)|Paul Jones]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Rej |first=Bent |date=2006 |title=The Rolling Stones: in the beginning |location=Great Britain |publisher=Firefly Books Ltd |page=66 |isbn=978-1-55407-230-9}}</ref> future [[Cream (band)|Cream]] bassist [[Jack Bruce]], and others who made up the small London [[rhythm and blues]] and jazz scene. He became a blues musician, for a brief time calling himself "Elmo Lewis" and playing [[slide guitar]]. He also started a group with Paul Jones called the Roosters. In January 1963, after both Joneses left the group, [[Eric Clapton]] took over Brian's position as guitarist.<ref>{{cite book |last=Clapton |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Clapton |title=Clapton: The Autobiography |url=https://archive.org/details/claptonautobiogr00clapt |url-access=registration |edition=First |year=2007 |publisher=[[Broadway Books]] |isbn=978-0-385-51851-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/claptonautobiogr00clapt/page/40 40]}}</ref>

Jones placed an advertisement in the 2 May 1962 edition of ''Jazz News'', a [[Soho (London)|Soho]] club information sheet, inviting musicians to audition for a new [[rhythm and blues|R&B]] group at the Bricklayer's Arms pub; pianist [[Ian Stewart (musician)|Ian Stewart]] was the first to respond. Later, singer Mick Jagger also joined this band; Jagger and his childhood friend Keith Richards had met Jones when he and Paul were playing Robert Johnson's "[[Dust My Broom]]" with Korner's band at the [[Ealing Jazz Club]].{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|p=32}} Jagger brought guitarist Richards to rehearsals; Richards then joined the band. Jones's and Stewart's acceptance of Richards and the [[Chuck Berry]] songs he wanted to play coincided with the departure of blues purists guitarist [[Geoff Bradford (musician)|Geoff Bradford]] and singer [[Brian Knight (musician)|Brian Knight]], who had no tolerance for Chuck Berry.{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|pp=35–36}}

As Richards tells it, Jones came up with the name the "Rollin' Stones" (later with the 'g') while on the phone with a venue owner. "The voice on the other end of the line obviously said, 'What are you called?' Panic! ''[[The Best of Muddy Waters]]'' album was lying on the floor—and track five, side one was 'Rollin' Stone Blues'".{{sfn|Jagger|Richards|Watts|Wood|2003|p=42}} The Rollin' Stones played their first gig on 12 July 1962 at the [[Marquee Club]] in London, with a line-up of Jagger, Richards, Jones, Stewart, bass player [[Dick Taylor]] (later of [[the Pretty Things]]) and drummer [[Tony Chapman]].<ref name="karnbach-p57-58">{{cite book |last=Karnbach |first=James |author2=Benson, Carol |title=It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: The Ultimate Guide to the Rolling Stones |publisher=Facts on File, Inc. |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-8160-3035-4 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/itsonlyrocknroll00karn/page/57 57–58] |url=https://archive.org/details/itsonlyrocknroll00karn/page/57 }}</ref><ref>Some sources including Keith Richards erroneously list [[Mick Avory]] as the drummer at that gig, but Avory himself denies it.</ref>

From September 1962 to September 1963, Jones, Jagger and Richards shared a flat (referred to by Richards as "a beautiful dump"){{sfn|Jagger|Richards|Watts|Wood|2003|p=37}} at 102 Edith Grove, [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]], with James Phelge, a future photographer whose name was used in some of the group's early "[[Nanker Phelge|Nanker/Phelge]]" writing credits. Jones and Richards spent day after day playing guitar while listening to blues records (notably [[Jimmy Reed]], [[Muddy Waters]], [[Willie Dixon]] and [[Howlin' Wolf]]). During this time, Jones also taught Jagger how to play harmonica.

The four Stones went searching for a bassist and drummer, finally settling on [[Bill Wyman]] on bass because he had a spare [[VOX AC30]] [[guitar amplifier]]{{sfn|Richards|Fox|2010|p=114}} and always had cigarettes, as well as a bass guitar that he had built himself.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wyman |first=Bill |author-link=Bill Wyman |url=http://www.billwyman.com/site/news/678/ |title= Bill answers fans' questions |access-date=17 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913114755/http://www.billwyman.com/site/news/678/ |archive-date=13 September 2011 }}</ref> After playing with [[Mick Avory]], Tony Chapman and [[Carlo Little]], in January 1963 they finally persuaded jazz-influenced [[Charlie Watts]] to join them. At the time, Watts was considered by fellow musicians to be one of the better drummers in London; he had played with (among others) Alexis Korner's group [[Blues Incorporated]].

Watts described Jones's role in these early days: "Brian was very instrumental in pushing the band at the beginning. Keith and I would look at him and say he was barmy. It was a crusade to him to get us on the stage in a club and be paid [[Half crown (British coin)|half-a-crown]] and to be billed as an R&B band."{{sfn|Jagger|Richards|Watts|Wood|2003|p=43}}

While acting as the band's business manager, Jones received £5 more than the other members ({{Inflation|UK|5|1963|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}), which did not sit well with the rest of the band and created resentment.{{sfn|Jackson|1992|pp=65, 114}} Richards has said that both he and Jagger were surprised to learn that Jones considered himself the leader and was receiving the extra £5, especially as other people, like [[Giorgio Gomelsky]], appeared to be doing the booking.{{sfn|Richards|Fox|2010|pp=125–126}}{{sfn|Wyman|Coleman|1997|p=261}}

===Musical contributions===
[[File:Kungliga Tennishallen Stones 1966a.jpg|thumb|left|Jones (left) with the Rolling Stones in Stockholm, April 1966]]
Jones was a gifted multi-instrumentalist, proficient on a wide variety of musical instruments.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.semana.com/gente/articulo/brian-jones-el-rolling-stone-original/465962/ | title=Brian Jones, el 'Stone' original | date=19 March 2016 }}</ref> His ability to play a wide variety of instruments is most evident on the albums ''[[Aftermath (Rolling Stones album)|Aftermath]]'' (1966), ''[[Between the Buttons]]'' (1967) and ''[[Their Satanic Majesties Request]]'' (1967). As a guitarist, in the early days, he favoured a white [[Vox Mark III|teardrop-shaped electric guitar]] produced by the [[Vox (musical equipment)|Vox]] company, especially in live performances; he also played a wide variety of electric and acoustic guitars from companies such as [[Rickenbacker]], [[Gibson (guitar company)|Gibson]], and [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender]]. As a slide guitarist, he favoured the [[open E tuning|open E]] and [[open G tuning|open G]] tunings.<ref>Paul Trynka interview with [[Dick Taylor]], early bass player for the Rolling Stones:{{cite web |last1=Trynka |first1=Paul |title=Open G tunings and open secrets |url=http://trynka.net/2014/08/open-g-tunings-and-open-secrets/ |access-date=24 January 2018 |author1-link=Paul Trynka |archive-date=25 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125024641/http://trynka.net/2014/08/open-g-tunings-and-open-secrets/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Richards maintains that what he calls "guitar weaving"<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://odeo.com/audio/5490053/view |title=Rolling Stones' Guitar Weaving (Podcast)-Q107 Toronto |access-date=12 May 2008 |archive-date=21 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021141144/http://odeo.com/audio/5490053/view |url-status=usurped }}</ref> emerged from this period, from listening to [[Jimmy Reed]] albums: "We listened to the teamwork, trying to work out what was going on in those records; how you could play together with two guitars and make it sound like four or five."{{sfn|Jagger|Richards|Watts|Wood|2003|p=39}}

===Changes in band dynamics and estrangement from bandmates===
[[File:MichaelCooper1967BenMerk.jpg|thumb|Jones (far right) with [[Michael Cooper (photographer)|Michael Cooper]], [[Mick Jagger]], [[Marianne Faithfull]], [[Shepard Sherbell]], and [[Maharishi Mahesh Yogi]] (at the front) in Amsterdam, September 1967]]
Oldham recognised the financial advantages of band members writing their own songs, as exemplified by [[Lennon–McCartney]], and that playing [[cover version|covers]] would not sustain a band in the limelight for long. Further, he wanted to make Jagger's charisma and flamboyance a focus of live performances. Jones saw his influence over the Stones' direction wane as their repertoire comprised fewer blues covers than he preferred; more [[Jagger/Richards]] originals developed (although many still had a bluesy sound), and Oldham increased his own managerial control, displacing Jones from yet another role.{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|p=76}}

In March 1967, [[Anita Pallenberg]], Jones's girlfriend of two years, left him for Richards when Jones became violent towards her while the three were on a trip to [[Morocco]],{{sfn|Richards|Fox|2010|pp=198–199}} further damaging the already strained relations between Jones and Richards. Jones was later hospitalised in Morocco. As tensions and Jones's [[substance abuse]] increased, his musical contributions became sporadic. He became bored with the guitar and sought exotic instruments to play, and he was increasingly absent from recording sessions. In [[Peter Whitehead (filmmaker)|Peter Whitehead]]'s promotional film for ''[[We Love You#Promotional film|We Love You]]'', made in July 1967, he appears extremely groggy and disoriented.{{sfn|Jackson|1992|p=161}}
[[File:Brian Jones playing instrument 1967.jpg|thumb|right|Jones in mid-1967]]
Jones was arrested for [[drug possession]] on 10 May 1967, shortly after the [[The Rolling Stones' Redlands bust|Redlands bust]] at Richards's Sussex home. Authorities found [[Cannabis (drug)|marijuana]], [[cocaine]], and [[methamphetamine]] in his flat. He confessed to marijuana use but said he did not use hard drugs.{{sfn|Jackson|1992|p=154}}

Hostility grew between Jones, Jagger, and Richards, alienating Jones further from the group.<ref>Booth, Stanley (2012) ''The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones''. Canongate Books. p. 107.{{ISBN|978-0-85786-352-2}}</ref> Although many noted that Jones could be friendly and outgoing, Wyman, Richards, and Watts have commented that he could also be cruel and difficult.{{sfn|Richards|Fox|2010|pp=271–272}} By most accounts, Jones's attitude changed frequently; he was one minute caring and generous, the next making an effort to anger everyone. As Wyman observed in ''Stone Alone'': "There were at least two sides to Brian's personality. One Brian was introverted, shy, sensitive, [and] deep-thinking. The other was a preening peacock, gregarious, artistic, desperately needing assurance from his peers."{{sfn|Wyman|Coleman|1997|p=83}} Wyman added: "He pushed every friendship to the limit and way beyond."{{sfn|Wyman|Coleman|1997|p=76}}

Charlie Watts recalled that Jones indulged in drinking and drug taking "but they weren't very good for him...he wasn't strong enough mentally or physically to take any of it. Brian was one of those people who did everything to excess." Watts also remarked that Jones was sometimes not very pleasant and that he upset other people very easily.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-rolling-stones-charlie-watts-regrets-about-brian-jones/ |title= The Rolling Stones: Charlie Watts' biggest regret about Brian Jones |newspaper=Far Out magazine|date= 26 April 2022 }}</ref>

Jones's last substantial sessions with the Stones occurred in the spring and summer of 1968 when the Stones produced "[[Jumpin' Jack Flash]]" and the ''[[Beggars Banquet]]'' album. His final lead guitar part was on the song "No Expectations": he plays slide guitar to Richards's acoustic rhythm. He can be seen in the [[Jean-Luc Godard]] film ''[[Sympathy for the Devil (1968 film)|One Plus One]]'' playing acoustic guitar and chatting and sharing cigarettes with Richards, although Jones is neglected in the music-making. The film chronicles the making of "[[Sympathy for the Devil]]".{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

Where once Jones played multiple instruments on many tracks, he played only minor roles on a few pieces during the latter stage of his time with the band. Jones's last formal appearance was in the December 1968 ''[[The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus]]'', a part-concert, part circus-act film organised by the band. It went unreleased for more than 25 years because Jagger was unhappy with the band's performance compared with others in the film, such as [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]], [[John Lennon]], [[the Who]], and [[Taj Mahal (musician)|Taj Mahal]].<ref name="rnrcircus">{{cite video |people=The Rolling Stones, Pete Townshend |title=Rock and Roll Circus |medium=commentary to the 2004 DVD release |publisher=ABKCO Films |display-authors=etal}}</ref> Commentary included as bonus material indicated that almost everyone at the concert sensed that Jones's time with the Rolling Stones was nearing an end, and [[Roger Daltrey]] and [[Pete Townshend]] of the Who thought it would be his last live musical performance.<ref name="rnrcircus"/>

===Legal issues and departure from the Rolling Stones===
Jones was arrested a second time on 21 May 1968 for possession of cannabis, which he said had been left by previous tenants of the flat. Because he was on [[probation]] at the time, he faced a long jail sentence if found guilty. The jury found him guilty, but the judge had sympathy for Jones; instead of jailing him, he fined him £50 ({{Inflation|UK|50|1968|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}) plus £105 in costs ({{Inflation|UK|105|1968|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}{{Inflation-fn |UK |df=y}}) and told him: "For goodness' sake, don't get into trouble again or it really ''will'' be serious."{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|p=311}}

Jones's legal troubles, estrangement from his bandmates, substance abuse, and mood swings became too much of an obstacle to his active participation in the band. The Rolling Stones wanted to tour the United States in 1969 for the first time in three years, but Jones was not in a fit condition to tour, and his second arrest exacerbated problems with acquiring a US [[work visa]]. In addition, Jones's attendance at rehearsals and recording sessions had become erratic. When he did appear he either rarely contributed anything musically or, when he did, his bandmates would switch off his amplifier, leaving Richards to play nearly all the guitars. According to author Gary Herman, Jones was "literally incapable of making music; when he tried to play harmonica, his mouth started bleeding".<ref>Herman, Gary (1982) ''Rock 'N' Roll Babylon''. Norfolk: Fakenham Press. p. 44.{{ISBN|978-0-85965-041-0}}</ref>

This behaviour was problematic during the ''Their Satanic Majesties Request'' and ''Beggar's Banquet'' sessions and had worsened by the time the band began recording ''[[Let It Bleed]]''. In March 1969, Jones borrowed the group's [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguar]] and went shopping in Pimlico Road. After the parked car was towed away by police, Jones hired a chauffeur-driven car to get home. In May 1969, Jones crashed his motorcycle into a shop window and was secretly taken to hospital under an assumed name. From this point, he was still attending recording sessions but was no longer a major contributor to the band's music.{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|p=323}} By May, he had made two contributions to the work in progress: [[autoharp]] on "[[You Got the Silver]]" and percussion on "[[Midnight Rambler]]". Jagger informed Jones that he would be fired from the band if he did not turn up to a photo session. Looking frail, he nonetheless showed up, and his last photo session as a Rolling Stone took place on 21 May 1969, first at [[St. Katherine Docks]], [[Tower Bridge]], London, and then at [[Ethan Russell]]'s photographic studio in [[South Kensington]]. The photos would appear on the album ''[[Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)]]'' in September 1969.{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|p=344}}

The Stones decided that following the release of the ''Let it Bleed'' album (scheduled for July 1969 in the US), they would start a tour of North America in November 1969. However, the Stones' management was informed that Jones would not receive a work permit owing to his drug convictions. At the suggestion of Stewart, the Stones decided to add a new guitarist. On 8 June 1969, Jones was visited by Jagger, Richards and Watts and was told that the group he had formed would continue without him.{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|pp=324–326}}

To the public it appeared as if Jones had left voluntarily; the other band members told him that although he was being dismissed, it was his choice how to break it to the public. Jones released a statement on 9 June 1969, announcing his departure. In this statement, he said, among other things, that "I no longer see eye-to-eye with the others over the discs we are cutting."{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|p=326}} He was replaced by the 20-year-old guitarist [[Mick Taylor]], formerly of [[John Mayall's Bluesbreakers]].

During the period of his decreasing involvement in the band, Jones was living at [[Cotchford Farm]] in East Sussex, the residence formerly owned by ''[[Winnie-the-Pooh]]'' author [[A. A. Milne]],<ref name="teleg2012">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/9258085/The-rock-n-roll-house-at-Pooh-corner.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513014817/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/9258085/The-rock-n-roll-house-at-Pooh-corner.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 May 2012 |title=The rock 'n' roll house at Pooh corner |first=Christopher |last=Middleton| date=12 May 2012 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |access-date=23 August 2012}}</ref> which Jones had purchased in November 1968. [[Alexis Korner]], who visited in late June, noted that Jones seemed "happier than he had ever been".{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|p=329}} Jones is known to have contacted Korner, Stewart, [[John Lennon]], [[Mitch Mitchell]], [[Alan Price]], and [[Jimmy Miller (producer)|Jimmy Miller]] about intentions to put together another band. Jones had apparently demoed a few of his own songs in the weeks before his death, including "Has Anybody Seen My Baby?" and "Chow Time".<ref name="aeppli.ch">{{cite web |url=http://aeppli.ch/TUG08/CDJonesUp.pdf |title=The Pipes of Pan |publisher=Aeppli.ch |access-date=7 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004221747/http://aeppli.ch/TUG08/CDJonesUp.pdf |archive-date=4 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Death ===
[[File:Brian Jones grave stone Cheltenham 2019.jpg|thumb|Jones's grave in Cheltenham Cemetery during the 50th anniversary of his death in 2019.]]
At around midnight on the night of 2–3 July 1969, Jones was discovered motionless at the bottom of his swimming pool at Cotchford Farm. His Swedish girlfriend, Anna Wohlin, was convinced he was alive when he was taken out of the pool, insisting he still had a pulse; however, by the time the doctors arrived, it was too late, and he was pronounced [[dead on arrival]] at the hospital at the [[27 Club|age of 27]]. The coroner's report stated it was a drowning, later clarified as "[[death by misadventure]]", and noted his liver and heart were greatly enlarged by past drug and alcohol abuse.{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|p=329}}<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2011/jul/08/archive-brian-jones-death-1969 |title=From the archive, 8 July 1969: Jones drowned while 'drunk and drugged' |date=8 July 2011 |work=The Guardian |access-date=27 March 2020 |archive-date=17 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117071338/https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2011/jul/08/archive-brian-jones-death-1969|url-status=live}}</ref>

Upon Jones's death, [[the Who]]'s [[Pete Townshend]] wrote a poem titled "A Normal Day for Brian, A Man Who Died Every Day" (printed in ''[[The Times]]''); [[Jimi Hendrix]] dedicated a song to him on US television; and [[Jim Morrison]] of [[the Doors]] published a poem titled "Ode to L.A. While Thinking of Brian Jones, Deceased".<ref>{{cite web |author=Max A.K. |url=http://www.people.nnov.ru/thedoors/wilderness2.htm |title=Ode to L.A. While Thinking of Brian Jones, Deceased |publisher=People.nnov.ru |access-date=10 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026211819/http://www.people.nnov.ru/thedoors/wilderness2.htm |archive-date=26 October 2013 }}</ref> Coincidentally, Hendrix and Morrison both died within the following two years, with Morrison's death falling on the same date as Jones's. All three died at the age of 27.<ref name=27C>{{cite web |title=The 27 Club: Musicians Who Died Young |url=http://www.upvenue.com/music-news/blog-headline/1026/the-27-club-musicians-who-died-at-27-years-old.html |work=UpVenue |access-date=19 August 2012 |archive-date=29 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629165645/http://www.upvenue.com/music-news/blog-headline/1026/the-27-club-musicians-who-died-at-27-years-old.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Greatest Myth of Rock & Roll |url=http://the27club.the27s.com/Forever27.html |work=The27s.com |access-date=18 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122102943/http://the27club.the27s.com/Forever27.html |archive-date=22 January 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 5 July 1969, which was only two days after Jones's death, the Rolling Stones had been scheduled to perform [[The Stones in the Park|a free concert]] in [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]]. The concert had originally been promoted weeks earlier as the first public appearance of Mick Taylor as the band's new guitarist. The band decided instead to dedicate their upcoming Hyde Park performance to the memory of Jones. At the beginning of the concert, Jagger took the stage to read excerpts from "[[Adonais]]", a poem by [[Percy Bysshe Shelley]] about the death of his friend [[John Keats]]. Stagehands then released hundreds of white butterflies from the stage area as a tribute to Jones. Afterwards, the band played a [[Johnny Winter]] song that was one of Jones's favourites, "I'm Yours and I'm Hers", with Taylor on slide guitar.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

Jones was reportedly buried {{convert|10|ft|m|0}} deep in [[Bouncer's Lane Cemetery, Cheltenham|Cheltenham Cemetery]] to prevent exhumation by trophy hunters. His body was embalmed, with hair bleached white, and was placed in an air-tight silver and bronze casket.<ref name="youtube.com">{{cite web |author=Hobley, Trevor [psychimedia] |date=14 April 2009 |title=The Psychic Detective – Brian Jones Case (3/5) [Video File] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t3GaobXyEQ |publisher=YouTube |access-date=22 July 2017 |archive-date=22 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822093730/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t3GaobXyEQ&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> Watts and Wyman were the only Rolling Stones who attended the funeral. Mick Jagger and [[Marianne Faithfull]] were travelling to Australia to begin the filming of ''[[Ned Kelly (1970 film)|Ned Kelly]]'' and stated that their contracts did not allow them to delay the trip to attend the funeral.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

When asked if he felt guilty about Jones's death, Mick Jagger told ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' in 1995: "No, I don't really. I do feel that I behaved in a very childish way, but we were very young, and in some ways, we picked on him. But, unfortunately, he made himself a target for it; he was very, very jealous, very difficult, very [[Psychological manipulation|manipulative]], and if you do that in this kind of a group of people, you get back as good as you give, to be honest. I wasn't understanding enough about his drug addiction. No one seemed to know much about drug addiction. Things like [[LSD]] were all new. No one knew the harm. People thought cocaine was good for you."<ref name="jaggerremembers">{{cite magazine |last=Wenner |first=Jann S. |title=Jagger Remembers |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=14 December 1995 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/mick_jagger_remembers |access-date=4 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622012856/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/mick_jagger_remembers |archive-date=22 June 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Wyman said in 2002, "As the years go by, I become even more convinced that he's entitled to a free pardon. Brian Jones is a legend, and his legacy is there for all to hear. While the Rolling Stones damaged all of us in some way, Brian was the only one that died."<ref>{{cite book|first=Bill|last= Wyman|title=Rolling with the Stones|title-link=Rolling with the Stones|publisher= Dorling Kindersley|isbn= 978-0-7894-8967-8|year= 2002}}</ref>

====Murder theory====
Theories surrounding Jones's death developed soon afterwards, with associates of the Stones claiming to have information that he was murdered.<ref name = "phil">{{cite book|first=Philip|last= Norman|title=The Stones: The Definitive Biography|publisher=Pan Macmillan|year= 2011|chapter= 12}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Southwell|first1=David|last2=Twist|first2=Sean|title=Conspiracy Files: Paranoia, Secrecy, Intrigue|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=42nZ26UcutEC|year=2004|publisher=Random House Value Publishing|isbn=978-0-517-22446-5|page=16|access-date=28 August 2020|archive-date=29 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829091115/https://books.google.com/books?id=42nZ26UcutEC|url-status=live}}</ref> According to rock biographer [[Philip Norman (author)|Philip Norman]], "the murder theory would bubble back to the surface every five years or so".<ref name = "phil"/> In 1993, it was reported that Jones was murdered by Frank Thorogood, a builder who was doing construction work on the property. He was the last person to see Jones alive. Thorogood allegedly confessed the murder to the Rolling Stones' driver Tom Keylock,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Perrone |first1=Pierre |title=Tom Keylock: Rolling Stones fixer from the 1960s |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/tom-keylock-rolling-stones-fixer-from-the-1960s-1783820.html |access-date=29 August 2020 |work=Independent |date=9 September 2009 |archive-date=19 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819203803/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/tom-keylock-rolling-stones-fixer-from-the-1960s-1783820.html |url-status=live }}</ref> who later denied this.{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|pp=328–329}} The Thorogood theory was dramatised in the 2005 film ''[[Stoned (film)|Stoned]]''.<ref>{{cite book|first=Eric|last= Segalstad & Josh Hunter|title=The 27s: The Greatest Myth of Rock & Roll|title-link=The 27s: The Greatest Myth of Rock & Roll|publisher= Samadhi Creations|isbn=978-0-615-18964-2|year= 2009}}</ref> Thorogood is alleged to have killed Jones in a fight over money; he had been paid £18,000 for work on Cotchford Farm but he wanted another £6,000.<ref name="nme">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/fresh-evidence-rolling-stones-brian-jones-murder-new-netflix-documentary-2533208|title=Fresh evidence on The Rolling Stones' Brian Jones's 'murder' appears in new Netflix documentary|website=[[NME]]|date=29 July 2019|access-date=30 January 2020|archive-date=30 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130212500/https://www.nme.com/news/music/fresh-evidence-rolling-stones-brian-jones-murder-new-netflix-documentary-2533208|url-status=live}}</ref> The killing is alleged to have been covered up by senior police officers when they discovered how badly the investigation into Jones's death had been botched by the local police.<ref name="nme"/>

In August 2009, [[Sussex Police]] decided to conduct a case review of Jones's death for the first time since 1969 after new evidence was handed to them by Scott Jones, an [[investigative journalism|investigative journalist]], who had traced many of the people who were at Brian Jones's house the night he died. The journalist had also uncovered unseen police files held at the [[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|National Archives]]. In 2010, following the review, Sussex Police stated it would not be reopening the case. It asserted that "this has been thoroughly reviewed by Sussex Police's Crime Policy and Review Branch, but there is no new evidence to suggest that the coroner's original verdict of 'death by misadventure' was incorrect".<ref>{{cite web |title=Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones 'murdered', his daughter claims |url=https://news.sky.com/story/rolling-stones-founder-brian-jones-discovered-dead-50-years-ago-today-11755781 |publisher=Sky News |access-date=1 September 2020}}</ref> Jones's children John and Barbara believe that their father was murdered.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/daughter-rolling-stones-founder-brian-174129804.html |title=Daughter of Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones claims her father was murdered |date=4 July 2019 |access-date=16 December 2023 |website=[[Yahoo! Entertainment]] |last=Young |first=Alex}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/rolling-stones-brian-jones-rare-interview/ |title=Watch a rare and heartbreaking interview with Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones |date=20 May 2022 |access-date=16 December 2023 |website=Far Out Magazine |last=Lee |first=Thomas-Mason}}</ref> Barbara appears in the 2019 documentary ''Rolling Stone: Life and Death of Brian Jones'' which pushes the theory of the murder.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://vermilioncountyfirst.com/2023/06/07/flashback-brian-jones-leaves-the-rolling-stones-4/ |title=Flashback: Brian Jones Leaves The Rolling Stones |date=7 June 2023 |access-date=16 December 2023 |website=Vermilion County First |author= Staff}}</ref><ref name=Afton/>

==Songwriting credits==
Unsure and insecure as a composer, Jones was not a prolific songwriter. The 30-second "[[Rice Krispies]]" [[advertising jingle|jingle]] for [[Kellogg Company|Kellogg's]], co-written with the [[J. Walter Thompson]] advertising agency in 1963 and performed by the Rolling Stones incognito, was credited to Jones; this did not sit well with the rest of the band, who felt it was a group effort and all should benefit equally.{{sfn|Wyman|Havers|2002|p=90}} Jones was also included in the "[[Nanker Phelge|Nanker/Phelge]]" songwriting credit, a pseudonym used on fourteen tracks that were composed by the entire band and Andrew Oldham.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

Oldham tried to establish a songwriting partnership between Jones and [[Gene Pitney]] after "becoming bored senseless by Jones's bleating about the potential of half-finished melodies that by no means deserved completion", but after two days of sessions "the results remain best to be unheard, even by Rolling Stones' completists".{{sfn|Oldham|2002|p=288}} In 1995, Mick Jagger told ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine that Jones had been jealous of the Jagger/Richards songwriting team, and added: "To be honest, Brian had no talent for writing songs. None. I've never known a guy with less talent for songwriting."<ref name="jaggerremembers" />

Faithfull reported that Jones wrote an early version of the melody for "[[Ruby Tuesday (song)|Ruby Tuesday]]" and presented it to the group. [[Victor Bockris]] reported that Richards and Jones worked out the final melody in the studio.<ref>Bockris, Keith Richards, Dutch translation, 1993, p.93-94</ref> Additionally, Jones is credited (along with Richards) for the instrumental piece "Hear It". However, in 1966, Jones composed, produced, and played on the soundtrack to ''[[Mord und Totschlag]]'' (English title: ''A Degree Of Murder''), an avant-garde German film with Anita Pallenberg, adding the majority of the instrumentation to the soundtrack.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

The only known released Jones song is "(Thank You) For Being There", which is a poem by Jones put to music by [[Carla Olson]] (who coincidentally has collaborated with Mick Taylor). It appeared on the 1990 album ''True Voices'' as performed by [[Natural Acoustic Band#Krysia Kocjan (Krysia Kristianne)|Krysia Kristianne]] and [[Robin Williamson]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

==Other contributions==
[[File:Brian Jones guitar, HRC Sacramento.jpg|thumb|right|Jones's [[Vox (musical equipment)|Vox Mark VI]], retired for display]]
In the summer of 1968, Jones recorded the Morocco-based ensemble, the [[Master Musicians of Joujouka]] ([[Jajouka]]), which was later used by the band; the recording was released in 1971 as ''[[Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka]]''. ''Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Jajouka'' was rereleased in co-operation with [[Bachir Attar]] and [[Philip Glass]] in 1995.<ref>Point Music (Philips Classics/PolyGram) 446 487–2; Point Music 446 825–2 and 446 826–2</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Armbrust |first=Walter |title=Mass Mediations: New Approaches to Popular Culture in the Middle East and Beyond, 2000 |url=http://www.escholarship.org/editions/view?docId=ft8k4008kx&chunk.id=s1.13.81&toc.id=ch6&brand=eschol |access-date=29 January 2010 |archive-date=29 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829091120/https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft8k4008kx&chunk.id=s1.13.81&toc.id=ch6&brand=eschol |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1967, Jones played [[alto saxophone]] on the [[The Beatles|Beatles]] song "[[You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)]]", which was released in March 1970, eight months after his death.<ref>{{cite web |last=Zentgraf |first=Nico |title=The Complete Works of the Rolling Stones 1962–2008 |url=http://www.nzentgraf.de/books/tcw/works1.htm |access-date=19 February 2009 |archive-date=20 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320065519/http://www.nzentgraf.de/books/tcw/works1.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Jones also played percussion on the Jimi Hendrix song "[[All Along the Watchtower]]".<ref>Padgett, Ray: The Story Behind Jimi Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower"</ref>

===Equipment===
Jones's main guitar in the early years was a [[Harmony Company|Harmony]] Stratotone, which he replaced with a [[Gretsch]] Double Anniversary in two-tone green.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Babiuk|first1=Andy|last2=Prevost|first2=Greg|title=Rolling Stones Gear|date=2013|publisher=Backbeat books|isbn=978-1-61713-092-2 |page=73}}</ref> His later guitars were mainly new guitars that [[Gibson Brands|Gibson]] would provide: various [[Gibson Firebird]] models, a [[Gibson ES-330]] and a [[Gibson Les Paul]].

==Public image and legacy==
Jones's musicianship, especially in the early days of the Rolling Stones, added much to the singles that propelled the band into the pop charts; it was his fashion sense and his hairstyle, which appealed to both men and women, that were copied by bands on both sides of the Atlantic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=19 June 2020 |title='Life and Death of Brian Jones' Documentary Digs Deep Into the Rolling Stones Co-Founder's Demise |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/rolling-stones-life-death-of-brian-jones-documentary-1234643158/ |access-date=26 July 2022 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

Pallenberg has stated in an interview that Jones wanted to look like [[Françoise Hardy]], loved "dressing up and posing about" and that he would ask her to do his hair and make-up.<ref name = "AnitaP">{{cite news |first= Anita|last= Pallenberg |title= Interview |page=9 |date= 16 October 2010|work=The Times |location=UK}}</ref> [[Bo Diddley]] described Jones as "a little dude that was trying to pull the group ahead. I saw him as the leader. He didn't take no mess. He was a fantastic cat; he handled the group beautifully."{{sfn|Wyman|Coleman|1997|p=156}}

Jones's death at 27 was the first of the 1960s rock phenomenon of music artists dying at 27. His death was followed within two years by the drug-related deaths of [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Jim Morrison]], [[Alan Wilson (musician)|Alan Wilson]], and [[Janis Joplin]], all of the same age. The coincidence of their deaths at the same age has been referred to in popular culture as the "[[27 Club]]".<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/the-27-club-a-brief-history-17853/robert-johnson-26971/ | title=The 27 Club: A Brief History | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=8 December 2019 }}</ref>

When Alastair Johns, who owned Cotchford Farm for over 40 years after Jones's death, refurbished the pool, he sold the original tiles to Jones's fans for £100 each. The sales of the tiles paid for half of the work.<ref name="teleg2012"/>

The [[Psychic TV]] song "[[Godstar (song)|Godstar]]" is about Jones's death, as are [[Robyn Hitchcock]]'s "Trash", [[the Drovers]]' "She's as Pretty as Brian Jones Was", [[Jeff Dahl]]'s "Mick and Keith killed Brian", [[Ted Nugent]]'s "Death by Misadventure", [[Cameron Winter]]'s "The Rolling Stones", and [[Salmonblaster]]'s "Brian Jones". [[Toy Love]]'s song "Swimming Pool" lists several dead rock icons, including Jones (the others are Morrison, Hendrix, and [[Marc Bolan]]), just as [[A House]]'s "[[Endless Art]]" does; Jones is also mentioned in [[De Phazz]]'s song "Something Special". The Master Musicians of Joujouka song "Brian Jones Joujouka Very Stoned" was released in 1974 and 1996.<ref>"Return to Joujouka, BBC Radio 4, 29 August 2000, Master Musicians of Joujouka, "Joujouka Black Eyes, Le Coeur Du Monde 1995</ref> The band [[Tigers Jaw]] heavily references Jones and his death in their song "I Saw Water", and pop punk band [[Groovie Ghoulies]] released the song "Planet Brian Jones" on a 7" vinyl EP of the same name in 1997. [[Alvin Youngblood Hart]]'s song "Watchin' Brian Jones" appeared on his 2014 single release ''Helluva Way (For A Man To Make a Livin')''. English group [[Ultimate Painting]] recorded "Song For Brian Jones" for their 2016 album ''Dusk''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oopzYgvydg Ultimate Painting "Song For Brian Jones" (Official Video)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625153916/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oopzYgvydg |date=25 June 2017 }}. Youtube (29 August 2016)</ref>
[[File:Brian Jones 50th anniversary attendence 2019.jpg|alt=People wearing clothes with Brian Jones and Rolling Stones fan art stand by a gravestone decorated with many flowers in front. One person is placing a bouquet.|thumb|Jones's fans attend the 50th anniversary of his death in 2019.]]

As of 2023, fans from around the world continue to visit and decorate Jones's grave in Cheltenham.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 July 2017 |title=Rolling Stones fans' graveside messages |url=http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife/my-love-you-never-die-184289 |access-date=28 May 2023 |website=GloucestershireLive |language=en |quote=fans from across the world are still flocking to the [graveside] to pay their tributes nearly 50 years after his death}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 July 2019 |title=Brian Jones walking tour launched in Cheltenham |url=https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/homes-and-gardens/places-to-live/22575497.brian-jones-walking-tour-launched-cheltenham/ |access-date=28 May 2023 |website=Great British Life |language=en |quote=his grave in Cheltenham Cemetery is carefully tended to this day.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=4 July 2019 |title=Brian Jones' daughter wants police to re-examine star's death |url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/daughter-brian-jones-calls-police-3054474 |access-date=28 May 2023 |website=GloucestershireLive |language=en |quote=fans travelled […] to his Cheltenham graveside […] on the landmark anniversary of his death. |last1=Hughes |first1=Janet }}</ref>

Many of Jones's contemporaries admit to idolising him as young musicians, including [[Noel Redding]], who, according to [[Pamela Des Barres]]'s book ''I'm With the Band'', contemplated suicide after hearing about his death. [[The Brian Jonestown Massacre]], an American [[psychedelic rock]] band, takes its name partly from Jones and is heavily influenced by his work.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arneson |first=Sven |date=10 July 2023 |title=The Brian Jonestown Massacre Announces Concerts at The ELM and The Top Hat |url=https://logjampresents.com/2023/07/10/the-brian-jonestown-massacre-announces-concerts-at-the-elm-and-the-top-hat/ |access-date=29 May 2024 |website=Logjam Presents |language=en-US}}</ref>

The 2005 film ''[[Stoned (film)|Stoned]]'' is a fictionalised account of Jones's death and his role in the Rolling Stones, partly based on [[Geoffrey Giuliano]]'s book ''Paint It Black: The Murder of Brian Jones'' (1994). The part of Brian was played by English actor [[Leo Gregory]].{{citation needed |date=April 2024}}

A fictionalised version of Jones and the tribute concert to him appears in [[Alan Moore]] and [[Kevin O'Neill (comics)|Kevin O'Neill]]'s ''[[The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume III: Century]]'' in its second issue, "Paint it Black". The world of ''[[The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen]]'' is an alternate universe version of Earth where several works of fiction are real with the fictional characters frequently [[Crossover (fiction)|interacting with each other]], with these characters occasionally serving as analogues of historical figures. Jones's fictional stand-in is [[Basil Fotherington-Tomas]] from the ''[[Nigel Molesworth]]'' books (who is now an adult, having grown up since the events in those books, and changed his name to "Basil Thomas") and his band is called "The Purple Orchestra".{{citation needed |date=April 2024}}{{excessive detail inline |date=April 2024}}

Jones's musicianship and contribution to the band are featured heavily in the documentary ''[[Crossfire Hurricane (film)|Crossfire Hurricane]]''. Another documentary, ''Rolling Stone: Life and Death of Brian Jones'', directed by Danny Garcia and distributed by Dudeski and Chip Baker Films, was released in 2020.{{citation needed |date=January 2024}}

==Discography==
'''With [[the Rolling Stones]]'''
* ''[[The Rolling Stones (album)|The Rolling Stones / England's Newest Hit Makers]]'' (1964)
* ''[[12 X 5]]'' (1964)
* ''[[The Rolling Stones No. 2]]'' / ''[[The Rolling Stones, Now!]]'' (1965)
* ''[[Out of Our Heads]]'' (1965)
* ''[[December's Children (And Everybody's)]]'' (1965)
* ''[[Aftermath (Rolling Stones album)|Aftermath]]'' (1966)
* ''[[Between the Buttons]]'' (1967)
* ''[[Their Satanic Majesties Request]]'' (1967)
* ''[[Beggars Banquet]]'' (1968)
* ''[[Let It Bleed]]'' (1969)

'''With [[the Beatles]]'''
* "[[Yellow Submarine (song)|Yellow Submarine]]" (1966) backing vocals, sound effects
* "[[You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)]]" (1970, recorded 1967) saxophone<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/you-know-my-name-look-up-the-number/ |title=You Know My Name (Look Up The Number) |date=16 March 2008 |publisher=The Beatles Bible |access-date=28 December 2015 |archive-date=29 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229090005/http://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/you-know-my-name-look-up-the-number |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''With [[Peter and Gordon]]'''<ref name="aeppli.ch"/>
* "A Mess of Blues" (1964) harmonica
* "You've Had Better Times" (1968) drums

'''With [[Mike McGear|McGough and McGear]]'''<ref name="aeppli.ch"/>
* "Basement Flat" (1968) saxophone
* "Summer with Monica" (1968) saxophone

'''With [[Marianne Faithfull]]'''
* "Is This What I Get For Loving You?" (1966) euphonium<ref name="aeppli.ch"/>

'''With [[the Andrew Oldham Orchestra]]'''
* "365 Rolling Stones" (1964) lead vocals, handclaps<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzentgraf.de/books/tcw/works1.htm |title=The Complete Works of the Rolling Stones – Database |publisher=Nzentgraf.de |access-date=7 April 2014 |archive-date=20 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320065519/http://www.nzentgraf.de/books/tcw/works1.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

'''With [[Hapshash and the Coloured Coat]]'''
* "Western Flier" (1969) piano, guitar, harmonica<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rockpopfashion.com/blog/?p=106 |title=THE LOOK – adventures in rock and pop fashion:: » Hapshash: Acid, art, music and madness |publisher=Rockpopfashion.com |date=14 August 2008 |access-date=7 April 2014 |archive-date=13 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113233719/http://rockpopfashion.com/blog/?p=106 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

'''Solo discography'''
* ''[[A Degree of Murder]]'' (1967) (soundtrack)
* ''[[Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka]]'' (1971) (recorded 1968)

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Cited sources==
* {{cite book |last=Jackson |first=Laura |title=Golden Stone: The Untold Life and Tragic Death of Brian Jones |year=1992 |publisher=Smith Gryphon Limited |isbn=978-0-312-09820-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/goldenstoneuntol00jack }}
* {{cite book|last1=Jagger|first1= Mick|last2= Richards|first2= Keith|last3= Watts|first3= Charlie|last4= Wood|first4= Ronnie|title=According to the Rolling Stones|publisher=Chronicle Books|year= 2003|isbn=978-0-297-84332-0}}
* {{cite book|last1=Oldham|first1= Andrew Loog |title=Stoned: A Memoir of London in the 1960s|isbn=978-0-312-27094-0|publisher=St. Martin's Press|year=2002}}
* {{cite book|last1=Richards|first1= Keith |last2= Fox|first2=James|title=Life |title-link=Life (Richards book)|publisher=Little, Brown and Company|year= 2010|isbn=978-0-297-85439-5}}
* {{cite book |last1=Wyman |first1=Bill |author-link=Bill Wyman|last2=Coleman|first2=Ray |title=Stone Alone: The Story of a Rock 'n' Roll Band |url=https://archive.org/details/stonealone00wyma |year=1997 |publisher=[[Viking]] |isbn=978-0-306-80783-1 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Wyman|first1= Bill |last2=Havers|first2=Richard |title=Rolling With The Stones|isbn=978-0-7894-8967-8|year=2002|publisher=DK Pub}}

==Further reading==
* Gered Mankowitz, [https://web.archive.org/web/20000830091755/http://home.earthlink.net/~hobhead/ Brian Jones: Like a Rollin' Stone]
* Robert Weingartner, [https://www.angelfire.com/ny/JonesStones/ A tribute to Brian Jones]
* Terry Rawlings (1994), ''Who Killed Christopher Robin?: The Life and Death of Brian Jones'', {{ISBN|978-0-7522-0989-0}}
* R. Chapman, "The bittersweet symphony", ''Mojo'', 68 (July 1999), pg.62–84
* Alan Clayson, ''Brian Jones'', {{ISBN|978-1-86074-544-7}}
* [[Mandy Aftel]], ''Death of a Rolling Stone: The Brian Jones Story'' (Delilah Books, 1982) {{ISBN|978-0-933328-37-2}}
* Graham Ride, [http://www.foundationstone.co.uk Foundation Stone], {{ISBN|978-1-904221-02-9}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Brian Jones}}
* {{Pop Chronicles|30}}
* {{Discogs artist|Brian Jones (5)}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Brian}}
[[Category:Brian Jones| ]]
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:1969 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century English guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century English male musicians]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in England]]
[[Category:Alcohol-related deaths in England]]
[[Category:British autoharp players]]
[[Category:British slide guitarists]]
[[Category:Burials in Gloucestershire]]
[[Category:Death conspiracy theories]]
[[Category:Deaths by drowning in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Drug-related deaths in England]]
[[Category:English blues guitarists]]
[[Category:English buskers]]
[[Category:English lead guitarists]]
[[Category:English male composers]]
[[Category:English male guitarists]]
[[Category:English male songwriters]]
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[[Category:English rock guitarists]]
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[[Category:People educated at Dean Close School]]
[[Category:People educated at Pate's Grammar School]]
[[Category:The Rolling Stones members]]