Edith Grove
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Disco STILL sucks!
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New Orleans
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From Nankering with the Rolling Stones by James Phelge:
The next day a letter arrived for Brian from the BBC regarding the audition the band had attended a few weeks before but had long since forgotten. It confirmed in polite BBC language the feeling the boys had sensed toward them while in the studio, saying their performance was not suitable. The letter further went on to say that Brian should phone the BBC's booking manager who would give a more detailed explanation. Brian laughed at the letter and was not going to bother making the phone call now they had signed with a manager. But the letter was worded in a way that hinted the BBC might be offering some helpful advice, so curiosity took over and Brian decided to ring them, if only for fun.
The BBC did indeed have a suggestion and when Brian returned from the phone box he laid it out. I was in the lounge with Mick when Brian came back into the room. Brian repeated the gist of his phone conversation and quoted the BBC man's crunch line, "We could possibly use the band, but we can't do much with the singer, he sounds too black."
We all fell about laughing and Mick could not believe it. He laughed but was almost speechless and kept repeating the phrase, "Sounds too black!" Keith heard us laughing and asked what the fuss was about.
"They said Mick sounds too black; they think he's black," said Brian, still laughing. We were all amused at the ridiculous statement from the BBC, although in many respects it was a compliment to Mick.
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