Chapter 19: The British Invasion
Released in 1966, Aftermath marked a significant creative breakthrough for the Rolling Stones. It was their first album composed entirely of original material by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, showcasing the band’s evolving sound and growing artistic confidence. The album also highlighted Brian Jones’s increasingly adventurous approach to instrumentation. Moving beyond guitar and harmonica, Jones expanded the group’s sonic palette by incorporating the melodic percussion of the marimba on “Under My Thumb,” the strumming of the Appalachian dulcimer on “Lady Jane,” and the Indian sitar on “Paint It, Black.” Inspired in part by George Harrison’s earlier explorations with Indian instruments, Jones’s sitar added a dark, exotic texture that deepened the song’s brooding and hypnotic atmosphere.
“Paint It, Black” became one of the Stones’ most iconic hits, reaching number one on both the U.S. and UK charts. The track opens with a droning sitar line layered atop a steady rhythm section and a descending bass figure, crafting a mesmerizing, Eastern-influenced soundscape. Jagger’s vocals enter with lyrics that serve as a stark meditation on grief, alienation, and emotional numbness. The song’s minor harmonies and modal shifts—especially the use of the Phrygian mode—heighten its sense of psychological tension and despair. With “Paint It, Black,” the Stones embraced psychedelic sensibilities and global musical influences, signaling a decisive shift from their earlier blues-rooted style toward more experimental and evocative sonic territory.
Despite their creative growth, the mid-1960s were marked by increasing controversy. Their 1967 album Between the Buttons included the hits “Ruby Tuesday” and “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” the latter drawing criticism for its overt sexual themes. The album reached number three in the UK and number two in the U.S., and would be Andrew Loog Oldham’s final project as the band’s producer.
In early 1967, British tabloid News of the World launched a three-part exposé titled "Pop Stars and Drugs: Facts That Will Shock You," which triggered a wave of legal trouble for the Stones. The second installment targeted the band directly, falsely accusing Mick Jagger of drug possession due to mistaken identity—the reporter had actually witnessed Brian Jones. Jagger filed a libel suit, but the damage was done. On February 12, Sussex police, tipped off by the paper, raided a party at Keith Richards’ Redlands estate. Although no arrests were made immediately, Jagger, Richards, and art dealer Robert Fraser were soon charged with drug offenses. Andrew Oldham, fearing arrest, fled to the United States.
While awaiting the fallout, Jagger, Richards, and Jones traveled to Morocco with singer Marianne Faithfull, Anita Pallenberg (Jones’s girlfriend), and others. The trip turned personal when Pallenberg left Jones for Richards, creating a permanent rupture in Jones’s relationship with the band. Richards later acknowledged, “That was the final nail in the coffin with me and Brian. He'd never forgive me for that.”
On May 10, the day of the Redlands arraignment, police raided Jones’s home and charged him with cannabis possession. By mid-1967, three of the five Stones faced legal battles. Jagger and Richards were convicted in June: Jagger received a three-month sentence for possessing amphetamines, while Richards was sentenced to one year for allowing cannabis use on his property. Both were briefly jailed before being released on bail pending appeal.
The harsh sentences sparked a cultural backlash. The Times ran an editorial titled “Who Breaks a Butterfly Upon a Wheel?” criticizing the disproportionate punishment. As a gesture of gratitude toward fans, the Stones released “We Love You,” which opened with the clang of prison doors and included references to Oscar Wilde’s trial. On July 31, the appeals court overturned Richards’ conviction and reduced Jagger’s to a conditional discharge. Jones’s trial followed in November. In December, he received a £1,000 fine and three years’ probation, with an order to seek professional help.