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Historical event

The Rolling Stones · 1968

The Rolling Stones

Historical music event in the Radio Music History database.

September 4, 1968Legal⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description

The Rolling Stones' “Street Fighting Man” was banned by several radio stations in Chicago and other cities following violence during the Democratic National Convention, amid fears that its lyrics could provoke further unrest. Local authorities were concerned that its revolutionary lyrics could incite public disorder or further violence. According to one source, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were not particularly concerned about the censorship; Jagger joked that censorship had previously helped one of the band's records sell a million copies.

Related events

  1. The Rolling StonesAugust 31, 1968
    Release⭐⭐⭐⭐
    London Records released The Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man" in the United States, inspired by an anti-war demonstration in London attended by 25,000 people. The single reached only No. 48 in the United States because a number of radio stations refused to play it because of lyrics perceived as subversive. The original cover depicted police officers beating a demonstrator and was quickly withdrawn from sale. Decca Records did not release the single in Britain at the time.
  2. The Rolling StonesSeptember 2, 1968
    Release⭐⭐⭐⭐
    The single “Street Fighting Man” was released.
  3. The Rolling StonesAugust 23, 1969
    Chart⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    The Rolling Stones began a four-week run at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 with “Honky Tonk Women”, their fifth US number-one single. The song was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and was inspired by Brazilian gauchos at the ranch where they stayed in Matão, São Paulo. In the UK, the song also reached number one; it was released one day after the death of founding member Brian Jones and spent 17 weeks on the UK chart, including five weeks at number one. It was the band's last hit involving Brian Jones, who had died by drowning in his swimming pool on July 3. The song also reached number one in Australia, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand and Switzerland in 1969.
  4. The Rolling StonesAugust 28, 1969
    Release⭐
    The Rolling Stones’ single “Honky Tonk Women” was released in the United Kingdom.
  5. The Rolling StonesAugust 29, 1969
    Album⭐⭐⭐⭐
    The Rolling Stones released the album "Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)" in the UK.
  6. The Rolling StonesAugust 30, 1969
    Chart⭐⭐⭐⭐
    The Rolling Stones reached No. 1 on the US chart with “Honky Tonk Women”, their fifth single to reach the top of that chart.
  7. The Rolling StonesAugust 31, 1969
    Release⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Decca Records released The Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man", described as their most political song. Mick Jagger wrote it after attending an anti-war demonstration outside the U.S. embassy in London in March 1968, during which mounted police attempted to control a crowd of 25,000 people. In the United States, the song reached only No. 48 because a number of radio stations refused to play it because of its allegedly subversive lyrics.
  8. The Rolling StonesSeptember 3, 1969
    Release⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    The Rolling Stones released the song “Angie”, which later became one of their best-known ballads.
  9. The Rolling StonesSeptember 6, 1969
    Chart⭐⭐⭐⭐
    The Rolling Stones remained at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart for a third week with "Honky Tonk Women". Johnny Cash was at No. 2 with "A Boy Named Sue", while The Archies were at No. 3 with "Sugar, Sugar".
  10. The Rolling StonesAugust 3, 1966
    Release⭐⭐⭐
    The Rolling Stones began a nine-day recording session at RCA Studios in Hollywood for the album “Between the Buttons.” The session continued through August 11.
  11. The Rolling StonesOctober 7, 1966
    TV Event⭐⭐⭐⭐
    The Rolling Stones made their final appearance on the British television program Ready Steady Go!
  12. The Rolling StonesAugust 30, 1970
    Tour⭐⭐⭐⭐
    The Rolling Stones began a 20-date European tour in Malmö, Sweden.