Bob Spitz has produced the definitive book on The Rolling Stones. THE ROLLING STONES: THE BIOGRAPHY is a 600+ page telling of the truly wild story of the musical group that was in trouble more often than not but managed to become one of the greatest live bands of all time. Even to this day, the Stones are kicking it on stages all across the world. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have survived a lot of otherworldly experiences, despite many attempts to take them down.

The book’s first 300 pages show how the band became famous (or, more accurately, infamous), considering the drug addiction, the messed-up marriages, and the endless number of children being born to various mothers. However, Spitz does a fantastic job of moving beyond the tall tales to focus on the music itself.

"[I]n his capable prose, Spitz brings out the most audacious and intimate stories about these men and their lives.... [THE ROLLING STONES: THE BIOGRAPHY] is the truest and most complete history of the world’s most dangerous band."

When I’ve played Desert Island Discs in the past, regardless of how many female artists rule my Spotify or the fact that the Beatles, Elton John and Steely Dan were the soundtrack to my childhood, I always choose Exile on Main St. as my absolute winner. The array of musical styles, tones and instruments in every song on that double album presents the real reason why the Stones will go down in history as one of the greatest bands ever. 

Their version of the blues (learned at the willing hands of B. B. King, Bo Diddley and Buddy Guy), their ability to use orchestras just as well as synthesizers, Keith’s hard-driving guitar work, and Mick’s way with words and his fiery vocal energy are among the most outstanding musical treasures of the 20th century. So I wasn’t surprised to hear that they worked hard on every track, waking up in the middle of the night, humming tunes that would become “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Gimme Shelter” and “Wild Horses.”

I imagine that nothing now is a surprise about the Stones. Still, in his capable prose, Spitz brings out the most audacious and intimate stories about these men and their lives. He gives credence to the fact that, despite the bluster of their sassy, street-tough personas, there are hearts beating inside those guys and deep thoughts ringing in their heads. Yes, the ding of cash registers and their massive fortune play a role in this story. But in the middle of their careers, it was about not just how to stay on top, but how to top what they had done. 

Not every experiment has gone well, and the guys who made my desert island pick are no longer the ones who do the giant stadium tours. But THE ROLLING STONES: THE BIOGRAPHY is a fascinating portrait of a band and a system that does not exist now in the rock world, as it has been eclipsed by so many other genres (no matter how hard Geese and Foo Fighters try to keep it going). Bob Spitz has written the truest and most complete history of the world’s most dangerous band.