Rolling Stones Gather in London for 50th Anniversary Exhibit

Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Mick Jagger attend 'Rolling Stones: 50 - Private View' as the Rolling Stones celebrate their 50th anniversary with an exhibition at Somerset House in London.

The Rolling Stones celebrated their 50th anniversary in style last night by reuniting for the launch of a new photo exhibition celebrating the band's career.

Last seen in public together at the Shine A Light premiere in 2008, their appearance at London's Somerset House – 50 years to the day after their first gig at London's Marquee Club on July 12th, 1962 – is expected to be just the first in a series of events over the coming months to mark the band's Golden Jubilee.

On the red carpet, drummer Charlie Watts confirmed to Rolling Stone that the band had been practicing again, although he said it had "not yet" made any concrete plans for their live return.

"We've been playing, not rehearsing," he said with a smile.

Photos: Rare and Intimate Pictures of the Rolling Stones

"We had a good play in New York a few weeks ago," added guitarist Ronnie Wood. "We did 50 songs in five days. It was brilliant."

Meanwhile, frontman Mick Jagger said he was pleased the band had made it through 50 years together.

"It feels really good," he said, "if a little long . . . in the tooth! It's quite surprising. It does seem a long time, but I'm really happy about it."

Later, inside the exhibition, which showcases intimate pictures from throughout the band's career, Jagger reminisced about that first show at the now defunct Marquee, which the band had "reconstructed" for a photo shoot the previous day.

"I remember it because of the trouble we had finding a rhythm section," he laughed. Dick Taylor played bass that night, with the drummer either Tony Chapman or Mick Avory, depending on whose version of history you believe. The lineup was completed by Keith Richards and Brian Jones on guitar and Ian Stewart on piano. Former bass player Bill Wyman did not come on board until later that year, with Watts joining in 1963.

Jagger also noted that the band – then billed as the Rollin' Stones – only got that first gig because Alexis Korner's band Blues Incorporated, with whom Jagger had been singing, had been called up by the BBC to do a radio session. Jagger said his disappointment at not participating in the session (after the BBC said they would only pay for six musicians rather than seven) was tempered by having his new band fill Korner's usual Marquee residency slot.

Fifty years on, the band caused rather more of a buzz as they again spent the night together in central London. Despite heavy rain, dozens of fans lined the Victoria Embankment by the side of the River Thames to catch a glimpse of the band as they arrived for the exhibition.

The Stones turned up 20 minutes later than planned in a silver people carrier and immediately posed for photos. Smiling broadly, Jagger and Richards kept Wood between them as the band linked arms for the massed ranks of paparazzi. Jagger, wearing an electric blue suit, enthusiastically took direction from the photographers, telling his bandmates to shuffle to the left for a better angle.

Photos over, the band spent only the briefest of moments on the red carpet but, once inside the exhibition, all four members took the time to look at the photos and chat with party guests, who included former Stones Wyman and Mick Taylor, Simply Red's Mick Hucknall, lyricist Sir Tim Rice, crime writer Ian Rankin and Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera.

For much of the evening, Jagger and Richards held court in separate areas of the party. Richards, wearing trademark hat and shades, looked at the photos with his son Marlon, chatted with Live Aid promoter Harvey Goldsmith and at one point doffed his hat to some passing fans who spotted him through an open window. Meanwhile, Jagger chatted with his glamorous daughters Lizzie and Georgia May near an open door on the other side of the exhibition.

But despite two years of apparent feuding since a row over Richards' autobiography Life, the pair seemed as happy and relaxed in each other's company as they did in many of the vintage photos on display. At one point, Richards whispered in Jagger's ear, seemingly sharing a private joke that made both of them laugh.

Indeed, togetherness seemed to be the order of the day, with Mick also spotted embracing former bass player Wyman and chatting at length with Wood. Whether this harmony will lead to either new recordings or another tour remains to be seen, although Jagger has hinted about at least one gig this year and Stones insiders expect further discussions to be held while the band are all together in London.
Watts, however, maintained that the reunion was really just business as usual.

"We've never been apart really," he said. "It's just they live in another part of the world – well, he [Wood] doesn't, but the other two do."

The exhibition runs at Somerset House until August 27th. It coincides with the release of a photographic book, Rolling Stones 50.

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Rolling Stones Gather in London for 50th Anniversary Exhibit

Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Mick Jagger attend 'Rolling Stones: 50 - Private View' as the Rolling Stones celebrate their 50th anniversary with an exhibition at Somerset House in London.

The Rolling Stones celebrated their 50th anniversary in style last night by reuniting for the launch of a new photo exhibition celebrating the band's career.

Last seen in public together at the Shine A Light premiere in 2008, their appearance at London's Somerset House – 50 years to the day after their first gig at London's Marquee Club on July 12th, 1962 – is expected to be just the first in a series of events over the coming months to mark the band's Golden Jubilee.

On the red carpet, drummer Charlie Watts confirmed to Rolling Stone that the band had been practicing again, although he said it had "not yet" made any concrete plans for their live return.

"We've been playing, not rehearsing," he said with a smile.

Photos: Rare and Intimate Pictures of the Rolling Stones

"We had a good play in New York a few weeks ago," added guitarist Ronnie Wood. "We did 50 songs in five days. It was brilliant."

Meanwhile, frontman Mick Jagger said he was pleased the band had made it through 50 years together.

"It feels really good," he said, "if a little long . . . in the tooth! It's quite surprising. It does seem a long time, but I'm really happy about it."

Later, inside the exhibition, which showcases intimate pictures from throughout the band's career, Jagger reminisced about that first show at the now defunct Marquee, which the band had "reconstructed" for a photo shoot the previous day.

"I remember it because of the trouble we had finding a rhythm section," he laughed. Dick Taylor played bass that night, with the drummer either Tony Chapman or Mick Avory, depending on whose version of history you believe. The lineup was completed by Keith Richards and Brian Jones on guitar and Ian Stewart on piano. Former bass player Bill Wyman did not come on board until later that year, with Watts joining in 1963.

Jagger also noted that the band – then billed as the Rollin' Stones – only got that first gig because Alexis Korner's band Blues Incorporated, with whom Jagger had been singing, had been called up by the BBC to do a radio session. Jagger said his disappointment at not participating in the session (after the BBC said they would only pay for six musicians rather than seven) was tempered by having his new band fill Korner's usual Marquee residency slot.

Fifty years on, the band caused rather more of a buzz as they again spent the night together in central London. Despite heavy rain, dozens of fans lined the Victoria Embankment by the side of the River Thames to catch a glimpse of the band as they arrived for the exhibition.

The Stones turned up 20 minutes later than planned in a silver people carrier and immediately posed for photos. Smiling broadly, Jagger and Richards kept Wood between them as the band linked arms for the massed ranks of paparazzi. Jagger, wearing an electric blue suit, enthusiastically took direction from the photographers, telling his bandmates to shuffle to the left for a better angle.

Photos over, the band spent only the briefest of moments on the red carpet but, once inside the exhibition, all four members took the time to look at the photos and chat with party guests, who included former Stones Wyman and Mick Taylor, Simply Red's Mick Hucknall, lyricist Sir Tim Rice, crime writer Ian Rankin and Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera.

For much of the evening, Jagger and Richards held court in separate areas of the party. Richards, wearing trademark hat and shades, looked at the photos with his son Marlon, chatted with Live Aid promoter Harvey Goldsmith and at one point doffed his hat to some passing fans who spotted him through an open window. Meanwhile, Jagger chatted with his glamorous daughters Lizzie and Georgia May near an open door on the other side of the exhibition.

But despite two years of apparent feuding since a row over Richards' autobiography Life, the pair seemed as happy and relaxed in each other's company as they did in many of the vintage photos on display. At one point, Richards whispered in Jagger's ear, seemingly sharing a private joke that made both of them laugh.

Indeed, togetherness seemed to be the order of the day, with Mick also spotted embracing former bass player Wyman and chatting at length with Wood. Whether this harmony will lead to either new recordings or another tour remains to be seen, although Jagger has hinted about at least one gig this year and Stones insiders expect further discussions to be held while the band are all together in London.
Watts, however, maintained that the reunion was really just business as usual.

"We've never been apart really," he said. "It's just they live in another part of the world – well, he [Wood] doesn't, but the other two do."

The exhibition runs at Somerset House until August 27th. It coincides with the release of a photographic book, Rolling Stones 50.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Friends and Family Gather in Newark for Whitney Houston's Funeral

The New Hope Baptist Church surrounded by memorials to Whitney Houston.

Whitney Houston was laid to rest today in her hometown of Newark, New Jersey, a week after her death at the age of 48.

The funeral was held at the New Hope Baptist Church, where Houston had made her start singing as a child. The service, which lasted more than four hours, drew a crowd of famous names, from gospel greats and R&B icons to Hollywood actors. Houston’s cousin Dionne Warwick introduced an all-star group of speakers and performers that included Houston’s Bodyguard co-star Kevin Costner, Stevie Wonder, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Tyler Perry and Alicia Keys. Aretha Franklin had been scheduled to perform, but had to withdraw due to illness.

In a service that balanced heartbroken mourning with a palpable sense of joy in gospel music, many of the guests spoke of Houston’s faith and her roots in the church.

Tyler Perry was visibly emotional and breaking into tears as he spoke to the crowd. "She had a grace that kept on carrying her all the way through her life. It was the same grace that carried her home," he said.

Kevin Costner, who described himself as Houston’s "pretend bodyguard," spoke of his and Houston’s shared upbringing in the Baptist Church as well as the "unexplainable burden that comes with fame."

"It was the burden that made her great, and the part that caused her to stumble in the end," Costner said. "And now you’re gone, leaving us with memories of a little girl who stepped bravely in front of this church, in front of people who loved her…. You stepped into the white hot light of the world’s stage. You set the bar so high that professional singers, your own colleagues, they don’t want to sing that little country song. Now the only ones who sing your song are little girls like you, who dream of being you one day."

Clive Davis, the music mogul who served as Houston’s mentor and earliest champion in the music business, described his reaction at hearing a teenaged Houston perform for the first time in 1983.

"You wait for a voice like that for a lifetime," he said. "You wait for a face like that, a smile like that, a presence like that for a lifetime. And when one person embodies it all, it takes your breath away."

Davis revealed that Houston had visited him in his hotel the week before she died and played for him tracks from her forthcoming movie, Sparkle.

"She looked at me and quietly said, ‘I want you to know I’m getting in shape. I’m swimming two hours a day. I’m committed to getting my high notes back, no cigarettes. Clive, I’ll be ready by August.’ Well Whitney, I’m gonna hold you to it. Everyone in heaven, including god, is waiting, and I just know you’re gonna raise the roof like no one else has done before."

 In addition to further speeches from Houston’s manager and sister-in-law, Kim Houston, and her real bodyguard, the service was full of music, from the gospel choir that started the service off, to powerful performances from members of the Winans family, Rev. Kim Burrell, and R. Kelly.

"I wanted to stop and give out praise to god for just allowing me to be in life at the same time as Whitney," Stevie Wonder said, before admitting "in my fantasy world, I had a little crush on Whitney." He performed his song "Ribbon in the Sky" with the words reworked to honor Houston.

Alicia Keys was crying as she sat down at the piano, wiping away her tears. She recalled how Whitney nurtured so many younger artists. "She just made us feel strong and capable and loved," Keys said, before launching into "Send Me an Angel."

As the service drew to its close and the pallbearers gathered around the gleaming golden casket, the opening a capella notes from Houston’s recording of "I Will Always Love You" filled the hall. 

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Friends and Family Gather in Newark for Whitney Houston's Funeral

The New Hope Baptist Church surrounded by memorials to Whitney Houston.

Whitney Houston was laid to rest today in her hometown of Newark, New Jersey, a week after her death at the age of 48.

The funeral was held at the New Hope Baptist Church, where Houston had made her start singing as a child. The service, which lasted more than four hours, drew a crowd of famous names, from gospel greats and R&B icons to Hollywood actors. Houston’s cousin Dionne Warwick introduced an all-star group of speakers and performers that included Houston’s Bodyguard co-star Kevin Costner, Stevie Wonder, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Tyler Perry and Alicia Keys. Aretha Franklin had been scheduled to perform, but had to withdraw due to illness.

In a service that balanced heartbroken mourning with a palpable sense of joy in gospel music, many of the guests spoke of Houston’s faith and her roots in the church.

Tyler Perry was visibly emotional and breaking into tears as he spoke to the crowd. "She had a grace that kept on carrying her all the way through her life. It was the same grace that carried her home," he said.

Kevin Costner, who described himself as Houston’s "pretend bodyguard," spoke of his and Houston’s shared upbringing in the Baptist Church as well as the "unexplainable burden that comes with fame."

"It was the burden that made her great, and the part that caused her to stumble in the end," Costner said. "And now you’re gone, leaving us with memories of a little girl who stepped bravely in front of this church, in front of people who loved her…. You stepped into the white hot light of the world’s stage. You set the bar so high that professional singers, your own colleagues, they don’t want to sing that little country song. Now the only ones who sing your song are little girls like you, who dream of being you one day."

Clive Davis, the music mogul who served as Houston’s mentor and earliest champion in the music business, described his reaction at hearing a teenaged Houston perform for the first time in 1983.

"You wait for a voice like that for a lifetime," he said. "You wait for a face like that, a smile like that, a presence like that for a lifetime. And when one person embodies it all, it takes your breath away."

Davis revealed that Houston had visited him in his hotel the week before she died and played for him tracks from her forthcoming movie, Sparkle.

"She looked at me and quietly said, ‘I want you to know I’m getting in shape. I’m swimming two hours a day. I’m committed to getting my high notes back, no cigarettes. Clive, I’ll be ready by August.’ Well Whitney, I’m gonna hold you to it. Everyone in heaven, including god, is waiting, and I just know you’re gonna raise the roof like no one else has done before."

 In addition to further speeches from Houston’s manager and sister-in-law, Kim Houston, and her real bodyguard, the service was full of music, from the gospel choir that started the service off, to powerful performances from members of the Winans family, Rev. Kim Burrell, and R. Kelly.

"I wanted to stop and give out praise to god for just allowing me to be in life at the same time as Whitney," Stevie Wonder said, before admitting "in my fantasy world, I had a little crush on Whitney." He performed his song "Ribbon in the Sky" with the words reworked to honor Houston.

Alicia Keys was crying as she sat down at the piano, wiping away her tears. She recalled how Whitney nurtured so many younger artists. "She just made us feel strong and capable and loved," Keys said, before launching into "Send Me an Angel."

As the service drew to its close and the pallbearers gathered around the gleaming golden casket, the opening a capella notes from Houston’s recording of "I Will Always Love You" filled the hall. 

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Hundreds Gather for the Funeral of Etta James

Stevie Wonder performs at the funeral service of Etta James in Gardena, California.REUTERS /JONATHAN ALCORN /LANDOV

Hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their last respects to Etta James as the R&B legend was buried today in Los Angeles.

The service was held at Greater Bethany Community Church City of Refuge in Gardena. A widely-attended public viewing took place on Friday at the Inglewood Cemetery Mortuary, where fans waited for hours to bid farewell to the singer, who died on January 20 at the age of 73.

The Reverend Al Sharpton presided over the funeral, opening by delivering a message from President Barack Obama, who famously danced with the First Lady to James’ song "At Last" during his first inaugural ball.

"Etta will be remembered for her legendary voice and her contributions to our nation's musical heritage," Obama's statement read. "I know she will be sorely missed by all those who knew and loved her."

Stevie Wonder performed with a church choir, singing "Shelter in the Rain," "The Lord's Prayer," and playing a harmonica solo.

"Out of all the singers that I've ever heard, she was the one that cut right to my soul and spoke to me," Christina Aguilera told the audience, before singing "At Last."

 U.S. Rep Maxine Waters was also there to offer some words of remembrance.

"Etta is special to me and for me, because she represents the life, the triumphs, the tribulations of a lot of black women all over this world," Waters said. "It does not matter who sang 'At Last' before or after Etta. It does not matter when it was sung, or where it was sung. 'At Last' was branded by Etta, the raunchy diva – that's her signature and we will always remember her."

In his eulogy, Sharpton described James’ incredible rise from poverty and addiction.

"The genius of Etta James is she flipped the script," Sharpton said, and praised her for helping break down racial barriers through her music. "She was able to get us on the same rhythms and humming the same ballads and understanding each other's melodies way before we could even use the same hotels.”

"At last, you can find peace now!” Sharpton concluded. “At last, you can get the gratitude of the savior now. Etta, you made it, you're going home. At last! At last! At last!"

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Hundreds Gather for the Funeral of Etta James

Stevie Wonder performs at the funeral service of Etta James in Gardena, California.REUTERS /JONATHAN ALCORN /LANDOV

Hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their last respects to Etta James as the R&B legend was buried today in Los Angeles.

The service was held at Greater Bethany Community Church City of Refuge in Gardena. A widely-attended public viewing took place on Friday at the Inglewood Cemetery Mortuary, where fans waited for hours to bid farewell to the singer, who died on January 20 at the age of 73.

The Reverend Al Sharpton presided over the funeral, opening by delivering a message from President Barack Obama, who famously danced with the First Lady to James’ song "At Last" during his first inaugural ball.

"Etta will be remembered for her legendary voice and her contributions to our nation's musical heritage," Obama's statement read. "I know she will be sorely missed by all those who knew and loved her."

Stevie Wonder performed with a church choir, singing "Shelter in the Rain," "The Lord's Prayer," and playing a harmonica solo.

"Out of all the singers that I've ever heard, she was the one that cut right to my soul and spoke to me," Christina Aguilera told the audience, before singing "At Last."

 U.S. Rep Maxine Waters was also there to offer some words of remembrance.

"Etta is special to me and for me, because she represents the life, the triumphs, the tribulations of a lot of black women all over this world," Waters said. "It does not matter who sang 'At Last' before or after Etta. It does not matter when it was sung, or where it was sung. 'At Last' was branded by Etta, the raunchy diva – that's her signature and we will always remember her."

In his eulogy, Sharpton described James’ incredible rise from poverty and addiction.

"The genius of Etta James is she flipped the script," Sharpton said, and praised her for helping break down racial barriers through her music. "She was able to get us on the same rhythms and humming the same ballads and understanding each other's melodies way before we could even use the same hotels.”

"At last, you can find peace now!” Sharpton concluded. “At last, you can get the gratitude of the savior now. Etta, you made it, you're going home. At last! At last! At last!"

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon Music and MP3 Center

Read more »