The folkways of tribe Rolling Stone include suspicion of contacts beyond the village, the pack constantly knocking down the alpha male, and a survival-of-the-fittest callousness that leaves a trail of broken band mates, producers, girlfriends, fans, and children. The autobiography of the band's celebrated guitarist reads as a justification for appalling conduct toward other human beings. That's rock 'n' roll, we are supposed to think, and he is a Glimmer Twin. But, as we learn in my review of Keith Richards' Life @ the American Conservative, consequences hit rock stars, too.

These guys could have easily been named "The Rolling Scumbags".

Their best work was Sticky Fingers and it's no surprise that Jagger and Richards had much less to do with the music on that album than other offerings.

"Sticky Fingers" is my favorite Stones album, too. I was surprised to learn in the Richards autobiography that Jagger actually wrote "Brown Sugar," one of hits on that album.

It's the only Stones album I've ever owned. Not a bad track on it.

"Can't You Hear Me Knocking", "Dead Flowers", "I Got the Blues", among others. Classics.