Fans of the legendary rock group The Rolling Stones are attempting to pinpoint the most important year in the band’s history.
A post to the r/RollingStones subreddit saw fans share their thoughts on what the biggest year for the band was. Most are in agreement on 1969 being the year of real change for The Rolling Stones, with an original post suggesting 1966 could also be in contention as the year that changed everything for the Mick Jagger-fronted group. The post reads: “In my opinion, it was 1969, Brian Jones being kicked out and replaced by Mick Taylor began a new era for the band with the best musicianship and best lineup. Brian’s death also had a huge impact on the members and put quite a heavy weight on them.
“They released Let It Bleed at the very end of the year, in my opinion this album perfectly describes the apocalyptic end of the 60’s and it really was the last album of the sixties in that way. And obviously who could forget the US tour, some say the birth of arena rock, where they recorded Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out, some say the best live album of all time. And of course there is Altamont. If you could pinpoint any moment that killed the hippie movement, it would be Altamont.
“Woodstock from Hell. Releases wise you got Let It Bleed, Honky Tonk Women and Through The Past, Darkly. Arguments could be made for 1966 as it was probably their most productive year in the studio, ’65, ’71, ’72, etc. But I think 1969 is their most significant year.”
Other users agreed and said they had 1969 on the mind before the post had even loaded. One wrote: “I saw the title of this post, and before the page loaded up, I said to myself ‘1969’.”
Another added: “Basically agree. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band came out in 1967, and many bands didn’t survive that. It took a little while, but The Stones ultimately thrived.” A third wrote: “I couldn’t agree more.”
Some have suggested The Rolling Stones’ quality in 1969 was a sign of the times, with the band writing the “greatest rock song ever” at the time. One user wrote: “I couldn’t agree more. 1969. They were perfectly in sync with the time.
What year was the most significant for the Stones?
byu/nevermindthegoat inrollingstones
“They wrote the greatest rock song ever, hired the one guitarist who would bring out their yet untapped potential for years to come, and participated as both victims and perpetrators in that palpably significant moment which unfolded at Dick Carter’s Altamont Speedway and which signified the end of so much associated with that decade.
“1969 was the start of something which would arguably peak in 1972, a time when it was hard to argue against the idea they were indeed The Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World.”
Another added: “I’m with all the 1969 proponents. That was my high school graduation, when my favorite favourite ‘Stones albums, Beggars Banquet and Let It Bleed, were released in rapid succession. I realise Beggars Banquet came out in December 1968, but its influence was largely felt as 1969 unfolded. I can’t think of two equally important albums coming out so close together except Grateful Dead’s 1970 releases of Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty.”
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