Brian Jones

Now that the authorities in Britain may be on the verge of finally investigating the mysterious, suspicious death of Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones, I wonder if its a safe bet that an old conspiracy theory is about to be trotted out. Of course, I am referring to vague rumors to the effect that Jones was murdered at the behest of Stones lead singer Mick Jagger and/or lead guitarist Keith Richards.

Yet, the very set of circumstances that led to such suspicions might well be the very ones that should serve to put it to rest. Jagger and Richards took creative control of the group which Jones actually founded, and took it in directions in which he never wished it to go.

Jagger and Richards then fired Jones, for a number of reasons-

*He was the only member of the group with a drug conviction, thus could no longer tour the US with the group, which was a practical necessity.

*Jones was so far gone due to drug use he was no good to the group at any rate.

It is also accepted canon in Stones lore that Jones was an abusive figure who slapped his girlfriend around, until she left Jones for Richards.

So what really happened on the night, just one month after the Glimmer Twins fired Jones from the group, that Jones was found dead at the bottom of his swimming pool, the apparent victim of a drug overdose?

Well, according to some reports, Jones was murdered by a friend and contractor by the name of Frank Thorogood, who later allegedly made a deathbed confession to the crime. The reason for the murder of Jones by Thorogood is dependent on who you choose to believe. According to some, Thorogood was angry that Jones was stiffing him on money for services rendered. Another version states that Jones attempted to fire the man and his crew after figuring out he was draining his finances for work that was mostly unnecessary.

There seems to be no principals to the story left alive, other than one witness who claims the contractor, during the night of the party, dived into the pool and approached Jones, whereupon he "did something to Brian"-and then left the scene. But this was known by official investigators at the time, as is the truth of the drug charge. Jones had been drinking, but there was no other drugs in his system. At any rate, why dredge this up now, when there may be no way to prove it one way or another?

Jones could have easily blacked out, suffered a seizure, or hit his head. Jones seemed to be on the verge of making a comeback and attempted to turn his life around. Yet, it might have been all to no avail.His heart was said to be roughly equivalent in health to that of a man in his sixties. Years of self-abuse had certainly taken its toll. And who is to say that the deathbed confession in question actually happened?

Well, of course its also a way to sell papers, and possibly a book by the man most responsible for pushing the investigation, but otherwise, it is doubtful that an examination of a forty year old corpse would turn up anything.

But, even if it did, where then from there? Possibly to the Stones, especially to Jagger and Richards, who are said to "freak out" whenever Jones name is mentioned.

Well, I can think of several reasons for that. One explanation is quite simple-a pair of guilty consciences. Even though they may have felt and still feel that Jones actions and lifestyle left them no choice but to act in theirs and the bands best interests, it has to make them wonder if they could have possibly taken another approach that might have worked out better for all concerned.

Or, they might have felt that Jones death was indeed a murder, by some perpetrator who might have then intended to kill them all. Perhaps Brian Jones death was a portent, or even a warning of some sort.

For that matter, it could have been a reality smack to the Stones. Talent and success are no guarantees that your last breath is not just around the corner. Jones was easily the most talented of the band, by almost all accounts, in at least certain regards. He could play almost any instrument as soon as he picked it up. With just a little effort, he could do so expertly. It was his initial vision and effort that made the Stones a household name. He had the talent, the drive, and the determination to succeed, and not one month after being dumped from the band, was well on his way to rebuilding his life, according to most that knew him well.

Then, just like that-he was gone.

I think, however, that there might well be another reason for the attitude of unease at the mention of Jones. All of them-Mick, Keith, and Jones-were during the time in question involved to some extent not only with drug use, but also with the occult.

I can easily see Jagger, or Richards, or conceivably both of them, conducting a ritual that involved a curse on Jones. Nothing truly meant to be taken seriously, but more than likely conducted partly as a joke, and partly as a way of expelling his influence and all the bad feelings that had built up over the last couple of years. This might well have happened in the days either immediately preceding, or immediately following, Jones firing from the band by Jagger and Richards.

It would be easy to see how Jones death would then affect the men who might have conducted what amounted to an off-hand "Satanic ritual" aimed at their old band mate.

Of course, if this is true, then it would simply mean that Jagger and Richards are probably yet another pair of victims of one of the most pernicious an unfounded myths ever perpetrated on the human race, one intended to keep men mired in superstition and chained to a false belief that a man's fate is not necessarily always in his own hands but can be subverted by supernatural agents who must needs be appeased, a myth which states-there is no such thing as a coincidence.

Of course, the curse might have actually worked. Who can tell?

For any who might be interested, the full story of the life, career, and untimely death of Brian Jones (or at least one version of it) can be read here.

Or, for a truly bizarre yet utterly fascinating take on the tale of sex, drugs, rock and roll and the occult-check out this engaging "true" ghost story.