The Last Song Brian Jones Recorded with The Rolling Stones
via Bootsy BeRo / YouTube
From Founder to Outcast
Brian Jones was one of the founding members of The Rolling Stones. In the early days, he helped shape the band’s blues-influenced sound and direction. Without Jones, the Stones might not have reached the status they hold today in rock history. He was talented, driven, and full of musical ideas that helped push the band forward.
But as the years went on, things changed. Jones became less of a leader and more of a problem. He began using drugs heavily, and it slowly took over his life. What once made him shine started to fade, and it began affecting the whole band.
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Struggling Behind the Scenes
Jones’ health and behavior started to scare those around him. Mick Jagger and the rest of the band saw someone they once looked up to become a distant version of himself. The sparkle that had helped fuel their early success was gone, replaced by confusion, isolation, and erratic actions.
Jagger wanted to help. He gave Jones advice, tried to keep him going, but nothing seemed to work. It was a painful experience watching a close friend spiral downward. Eventually, the band made the difficult decision to let Jones go. The final track he recorded with them was “No Expectations,” from the 1968 album Beggars Banquet.
A Final Moment of Clarity
“No Expectations” was a reminder of the old Brian Jones. His slide guitar added a strong emotional layer to the song. The track was recorded in a loose, live-style setup, with the band sitting in a circle and playing together. That moment seemed to bring Jones back, at least briefly, to the band he helped create.
“That’s Brian playing slide guitar,” Mick Jagger said later. “We were sitting around in a circle on the floor, singing and playing, recording with open mikes. That was the last time I remember Brian really being totally involved in something that was really worth doing. He was there with everyone else.”
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The Last Show and Growing Distance
After recording “No Expectations,” things continued to decline. Jones’ behavior became more unpredictable. The band grew more distant from him. His final performance with The Rolling Stones was in December 1968 during their Rock and Roll Circus TV special. That would also be the only time the band ever played “No Expectations” live with Jones.
His removal from the band became official in June 1969. It was clear he could no longer keep up. His focus and health were both gone. He had helped build The Rolling Stones, but now he was too far gone to continue with them.
Reflections from His Bandmates
Bill Wyman, the band’s longtime bassist, wrote about Jones in his book Stone Alone. “There were at least two sides to Brian’s personality,” Wyman said. “One Brian was introverted, shy, sensitive, deep-thinking. The other was a preening peacock, gregarious, artistic, desperately needing assurance from his peers. He pushed every friendship to the limit and way beyond.”
That contrast made Jones fascinating but also hard to deal with. His desire to be seen and loved often clashed with his darker, quieter side. His creativity made him special, but it also made him unstable when paired with fame and substance abuse.
Legacy Through One Last Song
Jones died just weeks after being fired from the band. On July 3, 1969, he was found dead in his swimming pool. The official cause was “death by misadventure.” He was 27 years old.
Though his time in the spotlight was short, Jones’ performance on “No Expectations” left a lasting impression. The footage from The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus—his final live show—continues to show his musical gift. That performance, and that song, help keep Brian Jones’ memory alive.
