The Rolling Stones – “Paint It Black” Live!
Mick Wants You To Paint It Black
You haven’t lived until you’ve seen The Rolling Stones perform the iconic, sitar-driven ‘Paint It Black’ live! What an amazing performance – granted, this the Stones early in their career, but it’s also the band at its best! Featured on 1966’s Aftermath, ‘Paint It Black’ was written by Mick Jagger about death and mortality, and one man’s desire to paint everything black to match his mood.
Fun Fact: Keith Richards has a hard time remembering ‘Paint It Black’.
According to the rest of the band, there’s always a brief moment of panic that sets in right before the song as they wait to see if Keith can remember how to play it!
It’s okay, Keith – I’m pretty sure the audience knows it well enough to be able to help you out!
Stones guitarist Brian Jones played the sitar on this. He made good television by balancing the instrument on his lap during appearances.
Funnily enough, this song almost became a slow, mournful ballad. Mick intended it for it to be a little on the darker side, until producers stepped in and added an upbeat tempo to counteract the dark lyrics. Somehow, I can’t imagine ‘Paint It Black’ as anything but the dark, upbeat tune that we’ve all come to know and love!