I'd imagine that a lot of bands started out doing covers, then some bright spark amongst them writes a song and here we go.Always lived in Suffolk, since he moved from Liverpool then St Johns Wood, London...he has a farm in Scotland which he bought in 1969.
Sent all his kids to the local state school in Suffolk.
The comment about the Stones I think was taken out of context by some grubby journo.
He seemed to mean in the early days they were a blues cover band, which is true, and most of their music is rooted in the blues. Which is true.
He did also state they are a fantastic band.
I've never been in a band but I imagine it's great just playing for a few quid with your mates.
That magical hotch potch of coincidental mayhem becomes something approaching fame.
Then we have stardom, image, musical differences, drugs, alcohol, fights, gigs, reviews, totp, groupies, managers, tours, arrests, shagging, fights, verbals, rivalry, and above all, great music.
And we wonder why we all mark an album out of ten differently.