New Doc On The Rolling Stones’ Brian Jones Coming To DVD Next Week

The definitive chronicle of original Rolling Stone Brian Jones is headed to DVD and major streaming outlets on June 12th. Rolling Stone: Life And Death Of Brian Jones by Danny Garcia is clearly not sanctioned by the Rolling Stones, and features no original music. What it does have is people who knew Jones throughout his life, including testimonials from Stones tour manager Sam Cutler, Jones’ daughter Barbara Anna Marion, Dick Taylor and the late-Phil May of the Pretty Things, and Jones' confidante Prince Stash Klossowski de Rola, among an assortment of British journalists.

The film has just wrapped up a run of successful screenings across the North America, Europe, and South America after a December world premiere in London at the Regent Street Cinema.

Brian Jones, a blues enthusiast, both named and led the original group, which included Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, and keyboardist Ian Stewart. Shortly after turning professional, Stewart, whose looks didn't fit with the band, signed on as their road manager.

Jones began losing control of the group when Jagger and Richards began their songwriting partnership in 1965, which slowly moved the band away from Jones' blues-based direction. By 1966, Jones' mental instability and drug abuse had become a liability to the Stones. Due to his substance abuse problems, Jones frequently missed tour dates and recording sessions, and was unable to function within the band when he did attend. He was fired from the band on June 8th, 1969 and drowned under suspicious circumstances on July 3rd, 1969.

Early fan Jimmy Page shed some light on the talents of the pure blues, pre-Rolling Stones Brian Jones: “Well, I first saw Brian Jones play in, I think it was the Railway Arms in Ealing, or Ealing Jazz Club. But I remember taking a sort of pilgrimage over there to see Alexis Korner's blues band, and (Brian) got up and played bottleneck (guitar) and he played some Elmore James, and I thought, 'Wow.' 'Cause I was listening to all of that stuff — as were, y'know, what were a real serious minority of guitarists that were listening to this sort of stuff. And then I found out that he could play harp afterwards, as well, and he was playing pretty good harmonica. And bit by bit it unfolded into what a wonderful musician he was. I mean, he was a really fine musician.”

The Rolling Stone Life And Death Of Brian Jones DVD includes such bonus features as — a film poster; 57 minutes of deleted scenes; exclusive behind the scenes bonus footage, a Scott Jones extra featurette; and the film’s official theatrical trailer.