Brian Jones - Who Killed Christopher Robin?: The Truth Behind The Murder of a Rolling Stone

by Terry Rawlings

Brian Jones was initially the Stones’ creative driving force, but by the late ’60s, he was drinking too much and strung out on drugs. He left the band in 1969 and three weeks later was found dead in his swimming pool. Acclaimed author Terry Rawlings draws on new interviews to document Brian’s ill-fated final days and hours and names his murderer.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1994

Reviews

[Tosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book right after the Ossie Clark Diaries is like dumping your head in the toilet at 3 a.m. Two brilliant characters (who knew each other) who lost the pilot and ended tragically. Brian Jones is a little personal to me because i knew him as a little kid. He was beyond sweet. And the book does cover that aspect but mostly his bad-assed version of himself (which I never saw) and the thought that he was murdered just turns my stomach into a huge belly ache.

It also made me angry that the creep(s) go away with murder! Nevertheless Terry Rawlings does a good job in telling Brian's story in a narrative that one wants to say 'Brian don't go that route."

And for the record, I love the Brian Jones era Rolling Stones. He was an essential member of that band - and when he left or got kicked out (as well as Andrrew Oldham) The Stones became a different band. Which is ok, but the power of their early records still colors my world --even at this time.

[Joann · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was interesting in that it related the history of events that led up to Brian Jones death. It was nice that updates were made to the original story. I found it difficult to read because there were so very many typographical and grammatical errors. There were literally one or more every few pages. I read on my kindle and I got tired of reporting the errors. There was obviously no editorial oversight.

[John Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

50 years since the death of ex Rolling Stone (he was ‘fired’ weeks before his death) so it was high time to give this book an airing and a dusting.

'Investigative journalism’? certainly that label easily attaches itself to the title. Rat packs of journalists feature throughout the book; hardly surprising, Brian Jones was a wet dream for the Paparazzi of his day, a nightmare for virtually everybody else.

It was interesting being taken back to the time when he was growing up (except he didn’t), his musical influences, the contemporary club scenes – jazz, rhythm and blues and early rock and roll. He was musically gifted and able to soak up all the musical inspiration like a sponge throughout his short life. He was also a specialist in self destruction and pretty good at making life difficult for others. His women fared badly. Several bore him children. His loins were particularly creative from the age of 15.

I found it almost impossible to feel any kind of sympathy for him. Even the author struggled. His life was chaotic, his death no less so. Terry Rawlings flashes something he feels is near enough to proof that the Coroner’s verdict – death by misadventure - was faulty. But I found lots of sloppy mistakes throughout the book, inconsistencies and mistakes around dates. This weakens my faith in the reliability of his evidence. A useful appendix of witness statements, post mortem records and the like but sadly no index which is badly needed.

Not without interest but I’m not sure that I’ll be putting it back on the shelf. I’ll try to re-home it.

A must read if you want to crack the first part of the title. I won't spoil it for you!

[Nicole smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Partially biased as I know the author and how much time and research went into the book however felt that it was a great perspective and one that is not often shown. Brian Jones was troubled and struggled a lot with the dynamics within the band, this book shows this so cleverly.

[Liv Ritson · Rating 4 out of 5]

impeccably researched but left me so frustrated at the lack of answers, not really the fault of Rawlings but I was left with more questions than answers and unsure of Thorogood's guilt and with an inkling of suspicion against Keylock.

[Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The death of Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones has been a mystery for four decades. Was it "death by misadventure," as officially ruled, or was Jones murdered? This book attempts to make a case for the latter, pinning the crime on a disgruntled handyman who became angry after he was cut off by money managers for the Rolling Stones.

The author's wide-eyed admiration of Jones -- by all accounts a calculating misanthrope who fathered almost a half-dozen children out of wedlock -- gets in the way of the narrative, as well as the author's zeal to prove that Jones' lifestyle of drink and drugs wasn't the main factor in his death.

If you are a Rolling Stones fan or have more than a passing interest in the music of the 1960s, you might enjoy this book. It recently was made into the movie "Stoned," which might be a better alternative.

[Pete daPixie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems I have this kind of attraction towards conspiracy theories. In fact I've read this book twice! Originally published in the 1990's, this new edition published in 2005 with an Epilogue at the end titled, 'Story of a cover up'.
You have to go along with Terry Rawlings, the events at Cotchford Farm in 1969 were plainly smelly. I love the quote from Keith Richards regarding the authors investigations, "that cat has probably got it right".

[Sharon Zanin · Rating 4 out of 5]

struggled to enjoy reading this