The day the Rolling Stones kicked out a member for being ugly
Ian Stewart, a founding member of the Rolling Stones, was dropped from touring because of his looks. His story of quiet collaboration will surprise you.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Ian Stewart: the pianist the Stones pushed aside over his image
Ian Stewart co-founded the Rolling Stones in 1962, but he never officially performed live with them. Manager Andrew Loog Oldham decided his looks didn't fit the band's aesthetic. So Stewart became an in-house session musician: he played on the records and the tours, but out of the spotlight. A curious decision for a band that sold an image of rebellion and transgression.
Stewart didn't leave. He remained the Stones' trusted pianist for decades. He recorded classics like "Rock and Roll" and "Boogie with Stu"... with Led Zeppelin. Yes, Stewart also worked with Page and Plant's band. His touch is on some of rock's most celebrated tracks.
There's more to the story. A band of "bad boys" sidelining a musician for being ugly, only for that musician to become indispensable in the studio, sounds like a quiet revenge. Today, Stewart is remembered as the invisible "sixth Stone." Perhaps the lesson is that talent matters more than looks, even if the music industry doesn't always get it.
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Ian Stewart co-founded the Rolling Stones in 1962, but he never officially performed live with them. Manager Andrew Loog Oldham decided his looks didn't fit the band's aesthetic. So Stewart became an in-house session musician: he played on the records and the tours, but out of the spotlight. A curious decision for a band that sold an image of rebellion and transgression.
Stewart didn't leave. He remained the Stones' trusted pianist for decades. He recorded classics like "Rock and Roll" and "Boogie with Stu"... with Led Zeppelin. Yes, Stewart also worked with Page and Plant's band. His touch is on some of rock's most celebrated tracks.
There's more to the story. A band of "bad boys" sidelining a musician for being ugly, only for that musician to become indispensable in the studio, sounds like a quiet revenge. Today, Stewart is remembered as the invisible "sixth Stone." Perhaps the lesson is that talent matters more than looks, even if the music industry doesn't always get it.
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