The Rolling Stones and Censorship
The Rolling Stones, a prominent rock band formed in postwar London, became known for their defiance of social norms and their confrontational style, which often led to clashes with censorship authorities. Their early music sparked controversy, particularly with lyrics in songs like "It's All Over Now," where certain phrases were edited out by American DJs. The band faced significant challenges on television as well, exemplified by their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1967, where they were pressured to alter the lyrics of "Let's Spend the Night Together" due to concerns over its suggestiveness. The Rolling Stones also encountered resistance from their record label, Decca, which forced changes to album artwork, notably for their 1968 album, Beggar's Banquet. In response to ongoing censorship issues, the band established their own record label, allowing them greater creative freedom, though they still faced restrictions in some countries, such as Spain. Throughout their career, the Rolling Stones navigated the tensions between artistic expression and societal limits, reflecting broader cultural shifts and the complexities of media regulation in the music industry.
Subject Terms
The Rolling Stones and Censorship
Founded: 1962
Type of organization: British rock band
Significance: The Rolling Stones have persistently challenged accepted standards in their lyrics and their behavior, thereby making themselves targets of censorship
As products of tough working-class neighborhoods in postwar London, the young men who formed the Rolling Stones were determined to be successful in their chosen field of music. At the urging of their first producer, Andrew Loog Oldham, the group violated social mores, record company regulations, and even national law, initially for the sole purpose of recognition. The plan apparently worked as the group gained vast popularity, an accomplishment resulting from their undeniable talent and studied outrageousness. The Rolling Stones sought confrontation and found it, resulting in a prolonged and angry struggle with censorship.
The group’s lead singer and lead guitar player, Mick Jagger and Keith Richard, ran into trouble almost immediately concerning the lyrics they wrote. One of their earliest songs was “It’s All over Now,” which contained the controversial line “half-assed games.” This phrase had gotten past their English publishing company, Decca Records, and their American distributors, London Records, but many American disc jockeys cut out the offending line or simply did not play the record. In November, 1966, guitarist Brian Jones showed up for a cover shot for a German magazine wearing a Nazi SS uniform. Not surprisingly, Jones was dropped from the cover, but he gained substantial notoriety.
The most public censoring of the Rolling Stones occurred January 15, 1967. The group had contracted to appear on the American variety program, The Ed Sullivan Show. Sullivan had booked the group with trepidation, and he became even more concerned when Jagger told the show’s producers he intended to sing the group’s current hit, “Let’s Spend the Night Together.” This song, which many radio stations were refusing to play, worried Sullivan because of its sexual suggestiveness and the possibility that substantial numbers of viewers and advertisers might be offended. Sullivan ordered the Stones to change the offending phrase to “let’s spend some time together,” or not appear on the program. The group reluctantly agreed to the change, but while performing the song, Jagger rolled his eyes and uttered unintelligible sounds when the song came to the controversial line.
The group also had continuing problems with its record company in reference to album covers. The original cover of the Beggar’s Banquet (1968) album featured the graffiti-littered wall of a dirty public restroom, but Decca refused to release the album until the cover was changed. Disgusted by Decca’s interference, in 1971 the Rolling Stones created their own publishing company and began releasing their own records. The first release was the album Sticky Fingers, showing a close up of a male crotch, complete with a working zipper. Even with their own recording company, though, the Rolling Stones could not totally escape censorship, as Spain refused to allow the album into the country.