Maureen Cleave describing the Rolling Stones to Evening Standard readers in 1964. I think this is my favourite passage in all music writing. It's packed with detail and tension, but nothing is unnecessary.
Comments
Log in with your Bluesky account to leave a comment
She was born in British India in 1934, her father was Major John Cleave, of the 7th Rajputs. British pop culture of the 1960s emerged out of the context of Late Empire, after the English army had just won the war. Someone should write a book about it.
Keef tended to go by "Richard" rather than "Richards" in the early days. I think it may have been a nod to Cliff, who (it is easy to forget) was seen by those slightly younger as a real British rock'n'roll pioneer in his earliest incarnation.
Lucy Sante wrote something recently about the things she reads as a way to get warmed up to write and I think I’ve found a good candidate for my file. Stunning
Cleave was a great journalist. Loved her series on each individual Beatle. Just after relating John's famous remarks about fame and the Beatles' eclipse of Jesus, Cleave wrote of John: "He is reading extensively about religion."
I also feel like the wind-up and level of detail serves the Jagger description, making it clear that Cleave really does mean indescribable rather than “I didn’t bother to try”
Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts will be happy that they nudged their ages down a few years. Wyman would have already been in the 27 Club when this was written.
Charlie is so much more famous than 90% of movie stars of the last 50 years. And yes, Mick is indescribable, even at that age. I still think it’s a tragedy that they left out Ian Stewart, but he probably would’ve dragged the average age of the group up by two or three years.
That passage by Maureen Cleave is a masterclass in capturing both the essence and the turbulence of the Rolling Stones at a pivotal moment in their rise. Her writing is both vivid and precise, conveying not just the surface details but the raw energy and rebellion that defined the band.
The way she balances admiration with a subtle sense of discomfort perfectly mirrors the cultural shift they represented. It’s fascinating how she distills so much about the era, the band, and their impact in such a succinct space every word seems carefully chosen, yet it feels effortless.
That is a great feat of memory. I have the same capacity occasionally. Unfortunately it can sometimes be "remember 60 years ago like it was yesterday, but can't remember what happened yesterday".
If you had never seen the Stones before you read this, you would recognise them immediately afterwards. You would be aching to see them. And Brian, working his dangerous charm.
Comments
- Much like those tins of spicy Italian style corned beef you insist we stock
So perfect.
He remained as road manager and pianist for over two decades until his death, and was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame