Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Nottingham Post
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk

THE Rolling Stones played just two shows in Nottingham, both during the early sixties, one at the Albert Hall, the other at the Odeon Cinema in Angel Row.

It was following the latter that Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts and Brian Jones nipped over to a party in Beeston.

And it was during the night at the house in Elm Avenue belonging to Joan West, that drummer Charlie Watts took the phone call informing them that their single, All Over Now, had reached No. 1 in the US chart. That was the signal for a celebration, recalled Joan in the Post in 2003.

"Charlie and Bill were fabulous, two of the most down-to-earth lads," she said.

"Brian Jones was also there, but he was a bit rude. We ignored him."

Fans had got wind of their attendance and police had to close the road.

"But kids got in the garden and shinned up the drainpipe to get at the Stones," she said.

"At one point, they all fetched their guitars from the tour bus, sat in a circle in my lounge and began singing. I wish I had had a recorder. But no one got drunk, there wasn't enough beer!"

Years later Joan wrote to Stones bassist Bill Wyman with her memories of that night, saying: "I'll never forget you and Charlie Watts sitting in my kitchen drinking out of jam jars because we'd run out of glasses!"

Wyman remembered the party, telling EG in 2002: "I met a girl there who was like a girlfriend on and off for two or three years."

But this wasn't the first time Wyman had been to Notts.

"I was evacuated there during war time, to Mansfield Woodhouse, so I have a soft spot for the area," said Wyman, then called Billy Perks, who lived with the Thorpe family in Nesbitt Street.

"They were very kind to us in those days. It's a bit strange opening your house to a family you never knew. People just helped people in those days, as opposed to today."

He didn't stay long though, his London accent causing him problems at school.

"The teacher used to whack me for not speaking properly. I was five or six years old and I was badly treated by some nasty vindictive woman who got her rocks off whacking me.

"I wish I could remember her name. She was horrible. She definitely didn't like Londoners."

He added: "Still, it was better than being bombed in London at the time.

"I was only there for six months. I was so unhappy at school that my mum put me on a train and I came back down to live with my gran through the war."

He would return to visit the family years later.

"Sometimes they'd come down through the 70s and 80s to see my parents, so there was a nice rapport going on between the families.

"I do have some fond memories. You know, it's nostalgia. Had I not been there before I would have probably thought it was a dump."

Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary since the Rolling Stones played their first gig at London's Marquee Club.

The same year they would play their first show in Nottingham, supporting the Everly Brothers along with Mickie Most, Bo Diddley, Julie Grant and Little Richard.

The Evening Post reviewer at that show wasn't a fan, complaining that the Stones "were almost inaudible behind the barrage of electronic sound."

To mark the anniversary the band has put together a book, featuring previously unseen images of the band, called The Rolling Stones 50. It's published by Thames & Hudson, priced at £29.95.

lets hope for a jam soon!!!