Book Review: S.T.P.: A Journey Through America With The Rolling Stones by Robert Greenfield

The recent publishing of Robert Greenfield’s Exile on Main St.: A Season in Hell with the Rolling Stones warrants a reconsideration of his previous book on the subject of the Rolling Stones, S.T.P.: A Journey Through America With The Rolling Stones. Chronicling the Rolling Stones 1972 U.S. Tour, S.T.P. (Stones Touring Party) was originally published in 1974, experienced and written while still close to the source. The tour was undertaken in support of the recently released Exile on Main Street.

Chronologically, S.T.P. occurs three years after Stanley Booth’s account of the controversial 1969 World Tour The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones, roughly buffeted between the drowning death of Brian Jones in July 3, 1969 and the murder of Meredith Hunter at the Altamont Free Concert, December 6, 1969. Discographically, the period in Booth’s account encompasses the releases of Beggar’s Banquet, Let It Bleed, and the recording of Get Yer Ya Yas Out and Sticky Fingers. There was no formal would tour to promote Stick Fingers and its production overlapped that of both Let it Bleed and Exile setting up the 1972 tour. Reportage-wise there is no account for 1970 through ’72. That is until Greenfield’s new Exile.

Greenfield's S.T.P.: A Journey Through America With The Rolling Stones is an account of what many consider the greatest rock and roll tour in history. A bit of hyperbole, to be sure, but I suspect that it was the Rolling Stones, swaggering into their decade, did set the tone for rock and roll excess. Exile on Main Street was released on May 12, 1972. Rehearsals for the tour took place in Dallas, Texas. The tour began June 3, 1972 at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver British Columbia and officially ended July 26, 1972 in at Madison Square Garden in New York City. There were 48 shows between these dates and added American concert dates.

Greenfield begins S.T.P. where Booth leaves off with The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones, at Altamont. He details the Stones' preparations for the tour and revels in the excess of the tour itself all in the shadow of the California tragedy. Greenfield relies mostly on interviews and his writing largely lacks the immediacy Stanley Booth had from actually traveling with the band in 1969. But, alas we have no better guide and like Holy Scripture, how else can a myth be born?

Article Author: C. Michael Bailey

Arkansas son C. Michael Bailey has been in hiding since he revealed his family's abolitionist position prior to the War Between the States. He is a Senior Reviewer for All About Jazz and publisher of the webblogs (About) 100 Words On…, 100 Degrees At Midnight and The Pot Calling The Kettle Black. …

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