The Rolling Stones' First Manager Made A Potentially Life-Saving Decision By Leaving The Band

Publish date: 2024-05-09

In 1967, the Rolling Stones became embroiled in a controversy that further cemented the bad boy image established by Andrew Loog Oldham. According to History, there was a raid at Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards' Redlands estate that, while it failed to produce much in the way of illicit drug paraphernalia, did include the discovery of a mostly nude Marianne Faithfull which authorities tried to claim was the result of drug use. It was an infamous case that lasted for months, and yet Oldham was nowhere to be found. As stated in a Yesterday's Papers video (via YouTube), Oldham was expected to handle the mess and protect the Stones' image, but had actually fled to the U.S. to dodge the authorities. The members of the band felt that he had behaved in a cowardly fashion, resulting in the dissolution of their relationship.

However, that's not quite how Oldham sees it; as stated in Far Out Magazine, he had succumbed to the stereotypical rock 'n' roll lifestyle of excessive drinking, drug abuse, and partying. It was when he realized that managing one of the biggest rock bands in the world that he could no longer function as their manager, stating, "Managing the Stones] was never tough until I could not keep a handle on myself. Then I had to leave." The story of how he and the Rolling Stones split is made more complicated by Oldham's belief that he had taken the band as far as he could, declaring that "my work here is done."

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