The Rolling Stones, Exhibitionism, Saatchi Gallery, London
The Saatchi Gallery on King's Road, Chelsea has been converted into an exhibition of the words, music, pictures, objects and memorabilia of “The World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band.” The galleries each have a theme covering particular aspects of their career, recording, live performance, instruments, clothing, appearance in films, etc.
An introductory room presents you with some statistics as each year goes scrolling along the gallery wall; 46 albums and 639 tracks recorded, 33 tours playing 1823 shows. Next door there are multiple video screens mixing newsreels, newspaper headlines, live performances presented in chronological order with voice-overs by various band members.
From here we're whisked back in time, but geographically just down the road to where it all started with a mock-up of the first flat they shared at Edith Grove, Chelsea during 1962-1963. The usual signs of young men living together all are present: unmade beds containing a variety of clothing; discarded cigarette butts and beer bottles; a sink full of unwashed dishes cultivating an assortment of mould growth. One thing which separates this flat from a multitude of others is the Muddy Waters playing on the radiogram in the living room.
We then progress through their very early recording and touring career looking at concert promotional posters and tour programmes from 1963-1964, plus some early fan club merchandise with original hand written answers to the usual pop personality questionnaires. There is a representation of Olympic Studios from the late 1960's with a variety of the instruments used to record six albums at Olympic between 1966-1972. Interestingly in the same room there's a brochure advertising for hire the mobile studio they used to record 'Exile On Main St', whilst in Villa Nellcote in Southern France, where they had relocated to “ease the tax burden”, which is an interesting choice of words considering the current debates on taxation on the U.K.
Outside the Olympic Studio set-up there are interactive displays where you can listen to the band's thoughts on recording technique and how to record The Stones from Don Was, the producer of their most recent albums. If you fancy yourself as a record producer then your luck's in as you slap on a pair of headphones and you create your own remixes of eight of their best known tracks via access to the individual vocal and instrument tracks.
A 'Stones on Film' gallery contains a short documentary narrated by Martin Scorsese, (director of the 2008 'Shine A Light' concert film), which covers their various appearances on film and his artistic relationship with the band.
More galleries are dedicated to design of their famous tongue logo, album covers, tour posters and scale models of the stage sets for the recent Steel Wheels to A Bigger Bang tours. A wall of Andy Warhol paintings of Mick leads to a large gallery of band clothing from the 1960's (and I thought my 20 years old band T-shirts were doing well) moving thorough hippiedom, glam, 1980 sports styles to the present, which reflects the changes in British fashion and shows they have been more than just about the music. It's amazing just how much they've collected and archived during this time almost that it would be required for an event like this one day.
The final two galleries are designed to represent a backstage area (considerably more sedate than that shown in the footage from 1972s 'Cocksucker Blues') with dressing and make-up areas, racks of guitars and various kit; you collect a pair of 3D glasses as you enter the 'STAGE' door for a 3D HD version of 'Satisfaction' shot live at Hyde Park in 2013 which is good fun as you and your fellow gallery visitors try and catch the contents of the confetti canons on the screen.
The obligatory gift shop sells the usual clothing, but also a coat for the canine Stones fan in your life and a designer table football game which is a snip at £4,750 plus delivery costs. Interestingly a gift shop in an exhibition of “The World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band' sells no music made by them.
Overall, a fascinating and imaginative insight into the story of an important part of British music of the last 50 years.
Back in the introductory room there's a quote from Keith Richards saying that he's not ready to discuss The Stones legacy as the only thing they don't know is how long you can do this. He's one of only four people in the World who can answer that question.
The Rolling Stones, Exhibitionism continues at the Saatchi Galley until September 2016
Alisdair Whyte
