He was the guy with the blonde bob, the one who looked like he belonged in a Victorian painting rather than a sweaty London club. If you’ve ever wondered what band was Brian Jones in, the answer is the biggest rock group in the world: The Rolling Stones.
But that's barely scratching the surface. He didn't just play in the band. He literally invented it.
Honestly, it’s kinda wild how history has a way of airbrushing people out. Most people today see Mick Jagger and Keith Richards as the undisputed architects of the Stones. While they certainly took the wheel later, in the beginning, it was Brian’s show. He was the one who put the ad in Jazz News in May 1962. He was the one who picked the name—borrowing it from a Muddy Waters track because he was obsessed with American blues. Without Brian, there is no "World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band." Period.
Before the Stones: The "Elmo Lewis" Days
Brian wasn't always a "Stone." Before he became a global fashion icon and a tragic member of the 27 Club, he was just a middle-class kid from Cheltenham with a massive chip on his shoulder and a serious talent for music.
He started out playing clarinet in a traditional jazz band (trad jazz was huge in England back then). But once he heard the blues? Everything changed. He ditched his hometown, moved to London, and started calling himself Elmo Lewis. He was basically a blues purist, busking on the streets and playing slide guitar when almost nobody in England knew what a slide even was.
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For a minute there, he was in a group called The Roosters. Want a fun piece of trivia for your next pub quiz? When Brian left The Roosters in 1963, he was replaced by a young guy named Eric Clapton.
What Band Was Brian Jones In? More Than Just the Stones
While the Rolling Stones define his legacy, Brian was a musical nomad. He lived for the sound, not necessarily the stardom.
- The Master Musicians of Joujouka: Brian traveled to the Rif Mountains in Morocco in 1968. He recorded local folk musicians, capturing a hypnotic, "pan-pipe" sound that was lightyears ahead of its time. The album Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka is considered one of the first "world music" records ever released.
- The Beatles sessions: Yeah, he was tight with the Fab Four. That’s Brian playing the goofy saxophone solo on "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)." He also sang backing vocals on "Yellow Submarine."
- Jimi Hendrix jams: He and Jimi were close friends. Brian actually introduced Hendrix at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. They spent hours in the studio together, though sadly, much of that recorded material remains the stuff of legend.
The Multi-Instrumentalist Who Changed the Sound
By the mid-60s, Brian was getting bored with just playing guitar. This is where he became the "secret weapon" of the Rolling Stones.
You know that haunting, Middle Eastern riff in "Paint It, Black"? That’s Brian on the sitar. The weird, tinkling percussion in "Under My Thumb"? That’s Brian on the marimba. The whimsical flute-like sound in "Ruby Tuesday"? Brian on the recorder.
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He had this incredible knack for picking up an instrument he’d never seen before and figuring out how to make it sound cool within a few hours. He wasn't a technical virtuoso like a classical musician, but he had "ear." He knew exactly what a song needed to feel different.
The Sad Exit and the 27 Club
By 1969, things were falling apart. Brian was heavily into drugs, his health was failing, and he’d become increasingly alienated from Mick and Keith. They were moving toward a harder rock sound, while Brian was still wandering through psychedelic and experimental woods.
The legal troubles didn't help. Because of his drug convictions, he couldn't get a visa to tour the U.S.
On June 8, 1969, Mick, Keith, and Charlie Watts drove out to Brian’s house—Cotchford Farm—and told him he was out. It’s a brutal moment in rock history. The guy who started the band was being kicked out of it.
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Less than a month later, Brian was found at the bottom of his swimming pool. The official cause was "death by misadventure." He was only 27.
Why Brian Jones Still Matters Today
If you listen to the early Stones records, you’re listening to Brian’s vision. He brought the grit. He brought the weirdness. He taught Mick how to play the harmonica.
People often ask what band Brian Jones was in because they see his face in old photos and realize he doesn't fit the modern "leather-and-denim" Stones aesthetic. He was dandyish, experimental, and difficult. But he was the soul of the 1960s counterculture.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Listen to 'Aftermath': If you want to hear Brian at his peak, put on the 1966 album Aftermath. It’s where his multi-instrumental talents really shine.
- Watch 'Rock and Roll Circus': This 1968 film shows Brian’s final performance with the band. It’s bittersweet, but it captures the end of an era perfectly.
- Explore the Blues: To understand why Brian did what he did, go back to his roots. Listen to Elmore James and Muddy Waters. That’s the DNA of the Rolling Stones.
Brian Jones wasn't just "in" a band. He was the spark that lit the fire. While the Stones rolled on for decades without him, that initial magic—the dangerous, unpredictable energy of the early 60s—belonged to Brian.