Book Review: Good Times, Bad Times, The Definitive Diary of the Rolling Stones by Terry Rawlings & Keith Badman

August 1998

This is the second Making Time review of a book by Terry Rawlings and Keith Badman and it follows a similar format to The Small Faces, Quite Naturally. It follows the career of the Rolling Stones during the 1960s, without doubt their best period. Terry and Keith have undertaken extensive research and combined this with the recollections of Tom Keylock, the band's driver at the time. The collection of photographs is excellent and this makes the book not only a detailed diary but also a thrilling visual documentary of the times.

The book starts in October 1960 when Mick and Keith first met in Dartford. Here they realised they had a common interest in music and a common friend in Dick Taylor, later of the Pretty Things. By 1962, Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated was playing the Ealing Jazz Club in West London and it was here that different members of the London jazz and blues scene came together and where many groups later successful had their roots. Apart from the Rolling Stones, the Ealing jazz scene represented a starting point for Jack Bruce of the Graham Bond Organisation and Paul Jones of Manfred Mann amongst others. Soon Mick, Keith and Brian were playing together with a residency at the Marquee jazz club in Oxford Street. At this time, Mick Avory, later of the Kinks, was the drummer. He left the band during the summer and the Stones recruited Tony Chapman while keeping an eye on Charlie Watts. Charlie was reluctant to give up his daytime job and, at the time, was only willing to play weekends. In December 1962, Bill Wyman was introduced to Ian Stewart and it was suggested that he auditioned for the bass player's part.

The group was still playing the London jazz clubs and it was at the Flamingo in Wardour Street that Charlie Watts made his full-time Stones debut in January 1963. The rest is history.

The book is a highly detailed documentary not just of the Rolling Stones but also of the times. The attention to detail is tremendous and if it is not included, it probably did not happen. As such the book is recommended not only for Rolling Stones devotees but anyone with an interest in the 1960s British music industry.

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Details

ISBN: 0-9517206-7-8

First published 1997 by Complete Music Publications

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