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No band exuded the glamor, decadence, or downright dirtiness of the 1970s like the Rolling Stones. From gilded castles in the English countryside to the sun-soaked beaches of Jamaica to the glittery coast of the French Riviera, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards set off on a rebellious, nonstop party, jet-setting across the globe—often just one step ahead of the law—in search of the next wild groove.
In Dirty Stones, author Bob Batchelor dives deep into the tumultuous era that began with the classic album Let It Bleed and ended with Tattoo You. He offers an intimate look at the band during one of their most creative periods. Led by the flamboyant, swaggering Jagger, the Stones cemented their place at the top of the music world—the biggest and most enduring band in rock history. Their music and style influenced countless artists and helped shape the sound of popular music during the 1970s and beyond.
Whether you’ve ever belted out “Beast of Burden” or worn a T-shirt with the iconic lips logo, Dirty Stones will transport you back in time to the pulsing beats, flashing lights, sold-out tours, and the roar of guitar licks filling the night sky. Find out how Mick and Keith climbed Mount Olympus in an age of music- and mythmaking, ultimately transcending pop culture to become the world’s greatest rock gods.
Author
Hailed as “one of the greatest nonfiction writers and storytellers,” by New York Times bestselling biographer Brian Jay Jones, cultural historian Bob Batchelor is a noted expert on contemporary American culture, history, and biography. His books examine modern popular culture icons, events, and issues, from comic books and music to literary figures and history’s outlaws.
Bob wrote a concise biography of Bob Dylan, introducing the iconic music legend to a new generation of readers, and edited a collection of fiction and essays inspired by the legendary Johnny Cash. He has written about MTV, the Grunge movement, and REM for PopMatters; Aerosmith, Metallica, and the Beatles in Rock Brands; and the evolution of music history in The 1900s, The 1980s, and American Pop. Bob has talked about numerous musicians and musical influences as an on-air or quoted expert on television and in the media, including Dylan, George Michael, Hair Metal, Glam Rock, Grunge, and Michael Jackson.
Bob has also published books on Stan Lee, The Great Gatsby, Mad Men, and John Updike, among others. Rookwood: The Rediscovery and Revival of an American Icon, An Illustrated History won the 2021 Independent Publishers Book Award for Fine Art. The Bourbon King: The Life and Crimes of George Remus, Prohibition’s Evil Genius won the 2020 Independent Publishers Book Award for Historical Biography. Stan Lee: The Man Behind Marvel was a finalist for the 2018 Ohioana Book Award for Nonfiction.
Bob’s books have been translated into a dozen languages. His work has appeared or been featured in the New York Times, Cincinnati Enquirer, Los Angeles Times, Today.com, The Guardian, and Time. Bob is also the creator and host of the podcast John Updike: American Writer, American Life. He has appeared as an on-air commentator for The National Geographic Channel, PBS NewsHour, BBC, PBS, and NPR. Bob hosted “TriState True Crime” on WCPO’s Cincy Lifestyle television show.
Bob earned a doctorate in American Literature from the University of South Florida. He has taught at universities in Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, as well as Vienna, Austria. Bob and his wife Suzette live in North Carolina and have two wonderful teenage daughters.
Learn more about Bob here: www.bobbatchelor.com
