Product Description

An account of the author's life as the manager and producer of one of the world's greatest rock bands, The Rolling Stones, as well as a story of the whole Sixties scene. Andrew Loog Oldham was a hustler of genius, addicted to scandal, notoriety and innovation.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #55247 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
In the 1960s, there were only two bands that really mattered: the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. And there were only two managers that mattered, too. The Beatles had the suave, charming, but ultimately conservative Brian Epstein, who persuaded them out of their Hamburg black leather gear and into suits. The Stones had Andrew Loog Oldham, who took them on when he was only 19. He did everything he could to provoke, outrage and disgust--one realises how Malcolm McLaren created the Sex Pistols according to the formula first devised by Oldham. He also had a powerful formative influence on the Stones as pop artists. It was Oldham who first suggested--no, told--Jagger and Richards that they should write their own songs from now on. A few hours later, Oldham returned to their flat and Jagger said, "we've written this f***ing song and you'd better f***ing like it." And so a rock'n'roll legend was born ... This is a superb hodge-podge of an autobiography, taken from conversations between Oldham and such iconic figures as Pete Townshend, Keith Richards, Mary Quant and, er, ... Jimmy Greaves? Throughout it all, Oldham emerges as brilliant, manipulative, slightly sinister and ultimately unknowable. He retains that essential aura of mystery to the end: his cover biography notes only that he "now lives in Bogota, Colombia." An interesting place to live, I'm sure, but hardly a town one associates with peaceful and contented retirement. The Oldham mystery endures.--Christopher Hart

Customer Reviews

wow a compelling read - a gig with the 50s and early 60s
As soon as I started reading this book I fell in love with it. You know when you enjoy a book because you bug people during those brief moments of silence (when you have to put the book down) over a drink or over dinner with 'in this book I'm reading so and so did....' and I was continually doing this from the very first chapter.

Not only does it give a clear insight to the music scene and industry of the late 50s and especially the 60s you also get an idea of Britain in the 50s with its rigid class structure and ration books. I was starry eyed with the description of the energy and the forth coming youth movement about to interupt onto starch shirted Britain of the early 60s. With its description of the Quant scene, the break through of the Beatles, the description of jazz, r&b and the happening London clubs of the time.

Absolute Beginners - absolutely fab4

Whatever you may know about or feel about ALO you have to admire and be gob smacked with the acheivements of one who was so very young.

Andrew I take my hat to you my son.

Teenage Wunderkind
I love the Stones, who doesn't. But you don't need to have even heard a note of Satisfaction to find this book one of the most enthralling, inspiring and downright incredible reads you'll ever come across. If they'd invented this character for a film, it would be ridiculed as totally implausible, completely beyond believability. If this guy had done all that this book reveals over a 20 year career, you'd still rate him as one of the most incredible characters the music biz has ever thrown up. But this book's story ends before Andrew Loog Oldham turns 20!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Read it and weep for the lack of energy, imagination, self-belief and sheer creativity that most of us common mortals exhibit. Read it and be inspired. Read it and smile. Read it and be unable to put it down. Read it till you begin conquering your own worlds.

As both a historical document of the great mid-century sea-change in british culture - the birth of the sixties, and as a forensic investigation into an extraordinary personality it is dynamic, detailed, insightful, enthralling and succeeds wonderfully.

What a story! What a guy!

Buy, you won't be disappointed. I've just ordered the follow-up.

More Swinging than Stoned
Those who wish to read this book for ALO's insights on the early Stones won't be disappointed -- but they will have to read about half the book before Andrew first meets Mick, Keith, et. al, at a Sunday gig. Fortunately, the first half of "Stoned" is a unique and resonant overview of the pre-Beatles world of London showbiz.

WIth friends and associates such as Lionel Bart and Mary Quant adding their own commentary, one realizes how impatient talented people were to reinvigorate music, theater and fashion in such a stodgy realm. Once things actually change with the advent of the Beatles, however, it becomes no surprise that ALO, Quant and Bart were able to grab on to the zeitgeist so quickly and successfully.

On the whole, "Stoned" is a portrait of chances sought, taken and pushed past the point of reason. Its only drawbacks are the use of some previously published interview material for outside commentary and the story's early ending. A welcome plus is commentary from Pete Townshend and former Who manager Chris Stamp. Here's hoping a follow-up is being written.