The Rolling Stones' storied past is littered with tales of triumph, but few are as fascinating as their early days in the studio. For Alan Florence, an 83-year-old engineer from Cambridgeshire, memories of the band's formative years still resonate – particularly the crushing rejection they faced when first pitching their unique sound to a disinterested music industry.
Florence was just a young gun at IBC Studios in London back in '63, but he vividly recalls Glyn Johns' enthusiasm for bringing in this 'funny- named' bunch of Brits – The Rolling Stones. This initial session, featuring the quintessential 1960s line-up of Jagger, Richards, Jones, Wyman, Watts, and Stewart, yielded four tracks that would go on to shape the course of rock history.
Despite Florence's own faith in the band's potential, those early demos were met with a resounding thumbs-down from the industry heavyweights. It was a harsh reality check for all involved – one that only served to fuel the band's determination to make their mark on the music world.
Back to the drawing board they went, recording another four R&B-infused tracks that would eventually be added to the original tape, creating an eight-track demo. Florence paints a picture of polite 'college boys' – far removed from the wild, untamed rockstars they would later become. Yet, no matter how hard he and his team tried, those combined demos still failed to spark any interest.
That all changed when Andrew Loog Oldham came knocking, eager to manage the band that was starting to gain momentum. He scooped up the rights to those demo recordings for a mere £98 – a fee Florence now deems 'feeble', but one that proved pivotal in securing their Decca Records deal later that year.
With hindsight, Florence can't help but chuckle at the what-ifs, joking about wishing he had a 5% stake in The Rolling Stones' astronomical earnings. His recollections offer a poignant reminder of the behind-the-scenes battles and the often-overlooked heroes who helped shape one of rock's greatest success stories.