Narrator / Host (mostly Dominic Sandbrook)

The optimism of the 60s was already a very distant memory.

I think so. Yeah, I think so. I think it's a different band, a less well-known band and one without the folk devil reputation, I think would not be such a big story. I completely agree with that.

I think so. Yeah, I think so. I think it's a different band, a less well-known band and one without the folk devil reputation, I think would not be such a big story. I completely agree with that.

I think so. Yeah, I think so. I think it's a different band, a less well-known band and one without the folk devil reputation, I think would not be such a big story. I completely agree with that.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Of course, for the Stones, you know, life goes on and they're in the middle of a fantastic run of albums. Two of their very best albums come in the next couple of years, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street. Yeah, because they get back to France, don't they? Yeah, and they're producing amazing stuff in France.

Of course, for the Stones, you know, life goes on and they're in the middle of a fantastic run of albums. Two of their very best albums come in the next couple of years, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street. Yeah, because they get back to France, don't they? Yeah, and they're producing amazing stuff in France.

Of course, for the Stones, you know, life goes on and they're in the middle of a fantastic run of albums. Two of their very best albums come in the next couple of years, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street. Yeah, because they get back to France, don't they? Yeah, and they're producing amazing stuff in France.

And I mean, by this point, what they've done is effectively invented what it is to be a rock band, I would say, to an extent that we now are so familiar with it. We take it for granted. Sex, drugs, rebellion, songs about with the sort of slightly satanic pretensions, death, all those themes that people associate with rock music as opposed to pop music.

And I mean, by this point, what they've done is effectively invented what it is to be a rock band, I would say, to an extent that we now are so familiar with it. We take it for granted. Sex, drugs, rebellion, songs about with the sort of slightly satanic pretensions, death, all those themes that people associate with rock music as opposed to pop music.

And I mean, by this point, what they've done is effectively invented what it is to be a rock band, I would say, to an extent that we now are so familiar with it. We take it for granted. Sex, drugs, rebellion, songs about with the sort of slightly satanic pretensions, death, all those themes that people associate with rock music as opposed to pop music.

It's the Rolling Stones who established the template. which is why I think they are the only band, actually, of that era that will be remembered as the Beatles will be. So, of course, there are lots of other fantastic outfits, but none of them quite, for me, have the same symbolic resonance as the Rolling Stones do.

It's the Rolling Stones who established the template. which is why I think they are the only band, actually, of that era that will be remembered as the Beatles will be. So, of course, there are lots of other fantastic outfits, but none of them quite, for me, have the same symbolic resonance as the Rolling Stones do.

It's the Rolling Stones who established the template. which is why I think they are the only band, actually, of that era that will be remembered as the Beatles will be. So, of course, there are lots of other fantastic outfits, but none of them quite, for me, have the same symbolic resonance as the Rolling Stones do.

Although, do you know the one person who doesn't agree with us on this? It's Mick Jacker. He was interviewed by Sounds in 1976. He said a brilliant line, which makes me think much better of him. He said, people overestimate the Rolling Stones. I don't think the Stones were as good as people think.

Although, do you know the one person who doesn't agree with us on this? It's Mick Jacker. He was interviewed by Sounds in 1976. He said a brilliant line, which makes me think much better of him. He said, people overestimate the Rolling Stones. I don't think the Stones were as good as people think.

Although, do you know the one person who doesn't agree with us on this? It's Mick Jacker. He was interviewed by Sounds in 1976. He said a brilliant line, which makes me think much better of him. He said, people overestimate the Rolling Stones. I don't think the Stones were as good as people think.

All right. So that's The Rolling Stones. Shall we return next week with something completely different?