December 10, 2012
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When The Stones Got Muddy
In 1981, there was by far and away no bigger band in the world than the Rolling Stones. Certainly they were big in the 1960s. And they were huge in the 1970s. But in 1981, they had a big hit with “Start Me Up” from the Tattoo You album. They then embarked on what was then one of the biggest world tours ever. The Rolling Stones had never been hotter. So, how is it that they ended up playing in a dinky, smokey bar on the south side of Chicago in 1981?
By 1981 Muddy Waters was not just a blues legend but he was considered one of the most influential musicians of all time. He was considered by many to be the father of Chicago blues. He was so influential, a band from England stole their name from a Muddy Waters song. That band was the Rolling Stones. Anybody who has heard even a few Stones songs can hear the bluesy influence of Waters. Love the Stones, than you certainly have to appreciate Waters even if you don’t like him. One might even say without Waters than there is no Rolling Stones or at the very least, it is a very different Rolling Stones. Hell, they wouldn’t even have the name, Rolling Stones. That is how important Waters was to them.
So the Stones were touring and in Chicago on that night in 1981 when they stopped by Muddy Waters blues bar the Checkerboard Lounge. And fortunately somehow it managed to get filmed and aired recently on PBS. Although I do believe it was a preplanned show, judging by the size of the crowd, it was not something that many people knew about. And it wasn’t like there was Facebook or text messaging that you could easily tell your friends to drop everything and get there. The bar was not very big and therefore did not hold a lot of people. I would be wiling to bet there were fewer than 100 people in the bar. Hell, judging by he sound, I think there was a lot less than 100 people. And it wasn’t only the Stones and Waters there. They even had Buddy Guy and Junior Wells come up to play with them. As I sat there watching this, I was in a state of awe at the enormity, yet tininess of it all. Here were the biggest artists in their genre, yet they were playing in a lounge so tiny that I’ve been to family reunions that had more people. Can you imagine showing up there that night and watching Waters play and in walks the Rolling fucking Stones? Wow.
Comments (1)
That would be pretty astonishing! I might think, at first,that they were fake Rolling Stones—until I heard them play. Oh no, now that song is in my head! Start me up and never stop…