The Sun & The Moon & The Rolling Stones, Rich Cohen

*Opinions!

“America rules! Our Beatles are way better than your precious Rolling Stones!” - Homer Simpson.

Stones lore. I am a lifelong Beatles fan and prefer them to The Rolling Stones. For younger people, there was a rivalry, at least a press created rivalry, back in the day.  The worshipful tone gets in the way of the mostly excellent narrative. Still just not that into them but would read the sequel, since the Stones have kept rolling on from the 1980s.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“America rules! Our Beatles are way better than your precious Rolling Stones!” - Homer Simpson.

I am a lifelong Beatles fan and prefer them to The Rolling Stones. Young people probably aren’t aware that there was a media contrived rivalry between them back in the day. In retrospect, there's no comparison. The Beatles couldn't beat The Stones’ record of live performances through the years and The Stones aren't as imaginative, innovative and strange as the in-studio Beatles. John Lennon could write the bluesy “Don’t Let Me Down” but The Stones could never have written the quirkier Beatles songs.  Paul McCartney seems like a diplomatic senior statesmen compared to Mick, who now has to contend with the poetic justice of Harry Styles. Someone better came along.

So when I tripped upon The Sun & The Moon & The Rolling Stones by Rich Cohen, I got the other side of the story and was qualified to do so, having read many rock bios and rock auto bios. This book intertwines a bit of the author’s personal story with his coverage of The Rolling Stones on the road. The author’s “I’m with the band” ethos detracts from his mostly excellent narrative which includes a deep dive into the cultural history of blues music in Britain. Solid rock reporting here.

I’m still just not that into the Stones except for the hits. Keith Richards, who looks like sudden death, seems to be the most relatable. Did I mention that I prefer The Beatles?