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Under Their Thumb: How a Nice Boy from Brooklyn Got Mixed Up with the Rolling Stones (and Lived to Tell About It)

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The Rolling Stones are one of the most studied and documented rock-n-roll bands in the world, second only to the Beatles. So I was a bit skeptical when I saw Bill German's book, wondering if there was anything left to write about Mick an' the Boys that hasn't already seen the light of day.
In truth, there are no earth-shaking revelations in German's book -- and that's just fine. Rolling Stones fans will still enjoy this fine account of a young super fan who -- through hard work and dedication -- found himself on the fringes of the Stones' inner circle -- close enough to smell the sulfur (literally, in one case).
And that's where the considerable charm in this book lies: Long-held beliefs about the Stones are confirmed: Mick is "a great bunch of guys." Keith is the cooly unflappable older brother we all wish we had. Ronnie seriously needs ADD medication, Bill is courtly and slightly above it all and Charlie is painfully introverted. And, as Ian Stuart points out to German, they're all at least a little bit crazy due to the insane lives they lead.
Serious Stones fans won't find much here about the creative process or inner workings of the band itself. But they will catch of glimpse of what life is like at the eye of the 40-year old storm that is the Rolling Stones. Ultimately, this book is Bill German's story -- but it's a great addition to any collection of works on the Rollilng Stones and adds a nice piece to the puzzle that is the world's greatest Rock-n-Roll band.

Bill German's book is a fascinating read, and not just because it's about one of my favorite all-time bands -- the Stones. It's also a great insider's view to the music industry in general and -- perhaps inadvertently -- into the life of an obsessive fan.

German began writing the Beggars Banquet when he was just a teenager; the Stones are so impressed with the 'zine that they allow him to hang out with them and gain rarefied access to their concerts and their life. The personalities become well-defined: both Ron Woods (Woody) and Keith Richards are surprisingly down-to-earth guys with solid marriages despite their zany lifestyles. Charlie Watts is an extreme brooding introvert who would rather not be bothered by anyone. And Mick? He's portrayed as a mercurial personality who is jokingly referred to as "he's a bunch of nice guys" because no one is ever sure which Mick will show up.

The business of rock and roll is unveiled in all its darkness; obscenely lucrative, merchandise-oriented tours where the original supporters are ousted and big business takes over...so much so that the Stones themselves don't have tickets to give to their own wives, let alone fans. Mick is the one politicking for these big tours, where each song is sung just the way it was recorded and no surprises or mishaps are allowed. One of the more humorous scenes is when Donald Trump "buys" the Stones for a weekend and fills his front seats with leading clients, most of whom are blue-haired and race out after the first few chords.

The insider information is priceless, but in the end, it is Bill German who is unveiled and the book REALLY becomes what it's like to be an obsessive fan. German earns less than $20K a year, lives in a roach-infested tiny apartment, foregoes dating and sex, and lives "under the thumb" of the Stones, who change plans on him at a whim. He is horrified when he discovers that the 'zine he lovingly puts out is viewed by many fans as -- gasp -- a way to access the Stones, not as a way to revere Bill's research and writing. He defines himself as -- and strives to be -- a serious journalist, but can't understand why he is not taken seriously when he covers just ONE topic (at one point, he seriously compares his "beat" to covering ONLY the White House!)

In short, it's written by a man who loses perspective and who can't imagine a life away from the Stones...and who believes that being a Stones groupie is one of the most important things in the world. That may not be the book German set out to write, but it is the one he DID write. And that's the most revealing part of all -- and well worth the read.

I purchased this book the day it came out. From the moment I picked it up to read, I couldn't put it down until I finished it.
I was nervous that Bill German might tell stories that would scar my fantasies about what the Stones were really like. But I have to say, he wrote the whole book in a very tasteful and classy way. He did not bash the Stones, and always looked for reasons people could have possibly been in a bad mood when certain incidents happened.
I will say it's obvious that he adores Keith and Ronnie. And I'm so happy for him that he was able to become so close with them. Mick is a different story. Any Stones fan realizes though that Mick can be difficult at times, and Keith is the laid back, easy going one.

I truly hope if you are a Stones fan, you will purchase this book. Not only is it a great book, but you'll love Bill German. You want this book to succeed for his sake.

AGAIN, I WILL RESTATE: THIS IS A MUST READ BOOK FOR STONES FANS! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

I was long time subscriber to Beggars Banquet. Before the internet,Bill German's fanzine was THE source for information on The Rolling Stones. I used to anxiously await for each new issue to be in my mailbox. I subscribed to other fanzines, but none came close to Bill's insider views. I couldn't wait to get his book and read about all the events going on at the time. I wasn't disappointed. Actually there might be too much inside info. Some things reassured my opinions of Mick and softened some of my views of Keith and Ronnie. I'm sure this book would have been written differently if Mr. German was a musician. So don't expect any technical details, like what key a certain song was originally recorded in or what kind of guitar Keith played on "One Hit To The Body". What you get is an account of an everyday hard core Stones fan that spent time in their word and reported back to us on the outside. He might not have always know the right question to ask, but he always gave us the answers he got.
If you are or ever were a Rolling Stones fan, do yourself a favor and get this book. Take a step back and read about a time right before they became nothing more than a big corporate money making machine.
Then sigh as you read how that all got started. Bravo Bill and I can't wait to see what you do next.

Bill German was there. He witnessed and lived it while paying his own way. No one likes to see how "sausage is made" (Sorry, Bill. I know that ain't koser!) and certain Stones fans may not like seeing the band, warts and all. However, for lovers of the truth, "Thumb" is a MUST READ.

What I found striking through out the whole read is that, despite how he was treated, German remain, and remains, respectful towards the Stones in general, and Keith and Ron in particular. I'm a HUGE Stones fan and will likely always be. However, I must say that German shows infinitely more class than Jagger is apparently capapble of showing.

I won't betray Bill by sharing his stories here. I will say that Keith comes out better than I imagined and Ron is the consumate "second hand" tragic figure. Charlie, you never know and Mick is, well, he's "Mick", for better or for worse.

Buy the book. Tell friends to buy the book. If they love the Stones, they won't be disappointed!

Randy Patterson
Boomerocity.com

I couldn't wait to read this book. I subscribed to Beggars Banquet, German's Stones fanzine. I had high expectations that this would be among the handful of "must read" books about the Stones. In a way I think it still is, but not for the reason I anticipated.

German has written a "must read" book, but it's really about Bill German and his quest to be a rock journalist, as well as an insider's look at the Stones. But he can't just be a rock journalist, because he's also a huge Stones fan, and involves himself in the lives of his idols. He revels in the little details of spending time with Keith and Woody, going to great lengths to describe a farting contest between the two. He has no qualms about going "on payroll" and submitting his newsletter for review. After his contract with the Stones expires, he puts his personal life on hold in order to maintain his "friendships" with Keith and Woody, and to keep the newsletter going. He often agrees not to print some things at Keith or Woody's request, yet bristles when Stones employees lambast him for leaking information. He attends as many shows as possible, even when he no longer has any real access to the band during tours. German seems oblivious to the tension created by his dual roles. He simply writes off his strained relationships with everyone in "the Mick camp" as jealousy, based on a comment made by a Stones bodyguard. He notes a change in the band's public behavior in a post-Lennon world, but fails to see that some in the Mick camp seem to perceive him as a potential Chapman. When he considers shutting down the newsletter, the obvious result of losing all pretenses for any kind of access to the band causes him to contemplate suicide. In the end, the conflict between Bill the Stones Fan and Bill the Journalist cannot be reconciled.

The book is a must-read because it chronicles a period of the band's history that has begged for this kind of in-depth look. German had a front row seat to the near breakdown of the band in the late 80s. He also witnessed the rise of "The Machine" and how it changed the band forever. German shows us that it's no longer only rock and roll, it's big business, and Mick likes it. The book also illustrates Woody's pecking order within the band. Even though he's been a band member longer than any of the other two guitarists who filled the spot before him, he's still careful not to overstep his perceived boundaries.

I would go so far as to say that German's book along with Nankering With the Rolling Stones and S.T.P.: A Journey Through America With The Rolling Stones are the top three entries in the Stones extensive bibliography, if only that it fills a gap in the band's history.

Never heard of the fanzine, Beggar's Banquet, or its author Bill German until I picked up this new memoir of German's life as a dedicated follower of the Stones. Many unusual inside tales. I was skeptical that German really did get as close as he claims, but the many pictures don't lie. For more than 15 years, this then-teen-20s-30s-something managed to follow the Stones around the world. One problem is why he never made more money out of it. He co-authored a book with Ron Wood, but was still treated as a non-person much of the time by the Stones organization. Also, why didn't he get more media opportunities? These questions aren't really answered. He claims he only made 20-something grand a year, but was still flying around the world attending Stones shows, staying in hotels and partying with Keith Richards and Woods till dawn. He never did manage to interview Charlie Watts, though. Despite some unanswered questions, this is a delightful read, unlike anything else in the Stones cannon.

When most people say a band changed their life, they don't mean it as literally as Bill German does. Bill German was 10 years old, living in Brooklyn in 1972 and his "life changed" when he heard a live version of Jumpin Jack Flash coming from his sister's bedroom.

He became a fan, and at age 16, finding his Stones information needs inadequately met, ("I couldn't tell you how many times I'd read that the Stones opened with `Johnny B. Goode' when it was really `Let it Rock'") he started a fanzine called Beggars Banquet, an enterprise which grew to thousands of followers worldwide. Running Beggars Banquet was German's sole occupation from 1978 to 1993 and Under Their Thumb is his memoir of that experience.

In the early 1980's many of the Stones are living in Manhattan and Bill German meets them. He becomes friends with Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards and even writes a book with Wood. He gets backstage access and sees historic concerts. He's there for Ian Stewart's memorial jam session at the 100 Club in London. He gets into the surprise show at Toad's Place in New Haven. He gets to watch stadium shows from a "cubby hole" on the stage. Under Their Thumb is filled with entertaining stories.

Through these anecdotes German draws portraits of the Stones members. Ronnie Wood comes off as easy going, always up for a drink and some jamming; Keith Richards seems like a solid guy, an old-school straight shooter, "We don't have time to argue about anything 'cause we're on the job and we gotta roll, go, and not argue about it. Give us some time off and we'll have a really good fight!"; and Mick Jagger emerges as enigmatic, sometimes cordial and charming, sometimes profoundly aloof. Of Mick, Ronnie Wood says with a sigh, "... Mick Jagger is a nice bunch of guys. It all depends on which one you get. He changes his accent every time you speak to him..."

The Stones are an interesting bunch, but Under Their Thumb's most intriguing character is Bill German. When he first started Beggars Banquet, there was no internet, cut and paste meant scissors and glue and "Kinko's wasn't on every corner". He was an editor, interviewer and art director. As publisher, he would cold call business offices and would leave free copies with the concierge at Mick's building. It was all his and he did it for seventeen years. As you read, you come to wonder if it's worth it. German considers this too, and much of the latter part of the book is him coming to terms with his career choice.

This book is a strange beast, the autobiography of a guy who's vocation is documenting the lives of other people, which makes it something of an autobiography/biography hybrid. However you categorize it though, it's entertaining stuff. The tone is serious but casual. The writing is deft, unpretentious, and readable.

Sure to please both the serious Stones fan with its unique perspective, and the general reader with its thoughtful and engaging writing, Under Their Thumb is a first rate memoir by a New York kid who just happened to be a Rolling Stones fanatic.

UNDER THEIR THUMB: HOW A NICE BOY FROM BROOKLYN GOT MIXED UP WITH THE ROLLING STONES AND LIVED TO TELL ABOUT IT tells of a teen who set out on a mission to chronicle the career and adventures of his favorite rock band the Rolling Stones. At age 16 he produced a Stones-only newsletter, then he encountered his idols in New York by accident - and the band was impressed with his newsletter, inviting German to hang out with the band. Thus outsider German became an insider privy to many Stones secrets and lives. Any collection strong in rock music will find this a winning pick.

Bill German's "Under Their Thumb" is a book I could not put down. It is light, humorous fun reading and the 300 plus pages fly by. I cannot call myself a real "Stones fan", but if you ever wondered what it is like to travel with and hang out with a world-class rock-and-roll band this tells the story.

In his self-deprecating humor and gentle style German writes an autobiography of his life from age 16 to well into his thirties depicting of his life hanging with the Stones and their entourage to write about them for his fan newsletter "Beggars Banquet". I bought this book to take with me on vacation and it provided good entertainment. German reminded me of Woody Allen. You keep pulling for him, but he never gets the big break.

Although I don't own one Stones album, I strongly recommend this book for anyone who would enjoy reading what goes on with one of those rock and roll bands behind the scenes.