Dick Taylor left the Stones on his own accord. Yeah, they made him switch to bass when Brian Jones joined the band, but it made sense at the time as Dicks guitar skills were limited. Even with the Pretty Things he was never a great soloist although I loved his tone and creativity. Another reason for leaving the Stones was that he wanted to head back to art school.
Anyways, some of the interesting things I like about the Pretties -
How the Fontana label screwed them by adding horns and strings all through their 'Emotions' album and it sounds so,,,,weird. Their everywhere and out of place and stuff. I actually dig it, but you can see why the band would have hated it. They left the label during the record so they had no power to stop it.
How they were advised to change drummers in the earlier times and Vivian Prince was introduced to them. Little did the management know that Vivian was even crazier then the actual boys already. Great drummer that inspired Keith Moon at the time. Vivian didnt last long though due to his crazy ways and drinking. Its rumoured that after leaving the band, he moved and joined a charter of the Hells Angels. Vivian was so crazy, he even got kicked out of that group. How nuts does a person have to be to get kicked out of the Hells Angels?
They once caught an airplane on fire while they were being flown on it.
The whole Phillip Debarge incident was bizarre. He was a french millionaire that fell in love with the band after hearing 'SF Sorrow' and he wanted them to create an album he could sing on. He threw a ridiculous amount of money at them and they agreed. The band packed up and travelled to Debarges place and stayed there while writing an album for him and doing his drugs. They said they just partied like mad, but Debarge actually wasnt that bad. He provided a prefessional studio and they cut the album. I have it and its not awful, but nothing memorable stands out.
Still neat that they recorded 'SF Sorrow' at Abbey Road across the hall from the Beatles (who were recording Sgt. Peppers) and Pink Floyd (who were recording Pipers At The Gates Of Dawn). Those three bands together in the same building sharing stories and bouncing ideas off of each other? No wonder the music was incredible.
Their 'Parachute' album was Rolling Stones album of the year in 1970 and it didnt even sell a million copies due to bad management again.
Signed to Zeppelins Swan Song label and got p*ssed off at them too as Peter Grant was giving orders as to what type of music and sound they should have. When 'Savage Eye' was released, Grant had songs written for them and ideas of a huge US Tour. Once the tour got underway, Phil May,by this time, had a serious drug problem and started missing gigs and rebelling against the whole thing. Another chance thrown out the window.
Cut an 80's album ('Cross Talk') just to prove that they could. Its slicker than a babys rear end and its definatly 80's.
Band still isnt allowed in Australia and New Zealand. I dont have all the details, but it was said nobodys daughters or farm animals were safe.
Anyways, theres a few books avaliable about them and I plan on picking those up soon. I want,,,no need,,, to know more about this band.