Rolling Stones

Rolling Stone's founder just lost decision-making power in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -- all because he called Black and female artists inarticulate ... TMZ has learned.

A rep for the Hall tells us Jann Wenner has been booted from the famed HOF's Board of Directors for their Foundation -- this after a vote was taken among the current members.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us the only dissenting vote was from Jon Landau.

Jann Wenner -- who helped launch RS Magazine way back in 1967 -- did an interview with the NYT this week in which he talks about who he interviewed for his forthcoming offering, "The Masters," which contains wide-ranging sit-downs with 7 rock and roll gods.

That includes Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Jerry Garcia and Pete Townsend ... all of whom, as the NYT journo noted, are white and male.

The Q: "There are seven subjects in the new book; seven white guys. In the introduction, you acknowledge that performers of color and women performers are just not in your zeitgeist. Which to my mind is not plausible for Jann Wenner. Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder, the list keeps going ... What do you think is the deeper explanation for why you interviewed the subjects you interviewed and not other subjects?

Wenner's answer is telling. He says, "When I was referring to the zeitgeist, I was referring to Black performers, not to the female performers, OK? Just to get that accurate. The selection was not a deliberate selection. It was kind of intuitive over the years; it just fell together that way. The people had to meet a couple criteria, but it was just kind of my personal interest and love of them."

He adds, "Insofar as the women, just none of them were as articulate enough on this intellectual level." The reporter pushes back, incredulously asking if he really doesn't think Joni Mitchell was articulate enough to talk music on an intellectual level.

Wenner responded, "It’s not that they’re not creative geniuses. It’s not that they’re inarticulate, although, go have a deep conversation with Grace Slick or Janis Joplin. Please, be my guest. You know, Joni was not a philosopher of rock ’n’ roll. She didn’t, in my mind, meet that test. Not by her work, not by other interviews she did. The people I interviewed were the kind of philosophers of rock."

El fundador de Rolling Stone acaba de perder el poder de decisión en el Salón de la Fama del Rock and Roll. Todo porque llamó a los artistas afro y femeninos inarticulados, TMZ ha indagado.

Un representante del Salón nos dice Jann Wenner ha sido expulsado de la famosa HOF de la Junta de Directores de su Fundación, esto después de una votación se llevó a cabo entre los miembros actuales

Fuentes con conocimiento directo nos dicen que el único voto en contra fue de Jon Landau.

Jann Wenner, quien ayudó a lanzar la revista Rolling Stone en 1967, ha concedido esta semana una entrevista al NYT en la que habla de las personas a las que ha entrevistado para su próximo libro, "The Masters", que contiene amplias entrevistas con 7 dioses del rock and roll.

Entre ellos figuran Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Jerry Garcia y Pete Townsend, todos ellos, como señala el periodista del NYT, blancos y varones.

La pregunta: "Hay siete temas en el nuevo libro; siete hombres blancos. En la introducción, reconoces que los artistas de color y las mujeres artistas no están en tu espíritu. Lo que, en mi opinión, no es plausible para Jann Wenner. Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder, la lista sigue, ¿cuál cree que es la explicación más profunda de por qué entrevistó a los sujetos que entrevistó y no a otros?

La respuesta de Wenner es reveladora. Dice: "Cuando me refería al zeitgeist, me refería a los intérpretes negros, no a las intérpretes femeninas, ¿vale? Para que quede claro. La selección no fue deliberada. Fue algo intuitivo a lo largo de los años. La gente tenía que cumplir un par de criterios, pero era simplemente mi interés personal y mi amor por ellos".

Y añade: "En cuanto a las mujeres, ninguna era lo bastante elocuente a nivel intelectual". El periodista le replica, incrédulo, preguntándole si realmente no cree que Joni Mitchell fuera lo bastante elocuente como para hablar de música a un nivel intelectual.

Wenner responde: "No es que no sean genios creativos. No es que sean inarticulados, aunque, vaya a tener una conversación profunda con Grace Slick o Janis Joplin. Por favor, adelante. Sabes, Joni no era una filósofa del rock 'n' roll. Ella, en mi mente, no cumplía esa prueba. Ni por su trabajo ni por otras entrevistas que hizo. Las personas que entrevisté eran el tipo de filósofos del rock".

The Rolling Stones have lost their appetite for "Brown Sugar" ... or at least their appetite for dealing with woke blowback -- they're retiring their classic tune due to its slavery depictions.

The Stones are 5 shows into their "No Filter" tour but a journalist noticed the band has not played the track at all in that span. That's huge ... considering "Brown Sugar" is reportedly the Stones' second-most performed song over the last 50 years ... at 1,136 times.

The issue is the 1971 track is all about the slave trade -- specifically, slavers raping enslaved Black women -- and shockingly, that's something many fans of the song don't even realize.

The opening verse is, "Gold Coast slave ship bound for cotton fields. Sold in the market down in New Orleans. Scarred old slaver knows he's doin' all right. Hear him whip the women just around midnight."

And, of course, the famous chorus goes ...  "Brown Sugar, how come you taste so good. Brown Sugar, just like a young girl should."

But, Keith Richards told the L.A. Times the song isn't glorifying slavery. The guitarist said, "I'm trying to figure out with the sisters quite where the beef is. Didn't they understand this was a song about the horrors of slavery? But, they're trying to bury it. At the moment I don't want to get into conflicts with all of this s***."

While the Stones might legitimately be trying to document the horrors of slavery, it sure doesn't come across that way when Mick Jagger and stadiums full of fans jump, clap and sing-along with those lyrics.

Anyway, it's not totally dead. Mick added, "Sometimes you think, 'We'll take that one out for now and see how it goes.' We might put it back in."

Translation: If, by some miracle, Mick and Keith outlive woke culture they'll play "Brown Sugar" again.

Mick Brigden, a mainstay in the music industry whose work included tour manager for the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, has died.

Mick's wife says her husband was digging a grave for their dog at their home in Santa Rosa, CA when he suffered a medical emergency and was rushed to a hospital, where he died.

The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Mick began his career as a concert promoter and worked with Van Morrison, Joe Satriani, Humble Pie, Peter Frampton and Carlos Santana. He was one of the founders of Wolfgang Records, which released multiple albums by Eddie Money, including his first, self-titled album in 1977.

Outside of music management, Brigden had a passion for winemaking, supplying grapes grown in his Northern California vineyard to make an exclusive Owl Ridge cabernet.

This has been a rough period for the Stones and Stones fans. Charlie Watts, the group's one-and-only drummer for 6 decades, died last month.

As for Brigden ... he's survived by his wife of 34 years, Julia, son Jack, stepdaughter Jessica and grandson David.

Mick was 73.

RIP

Charlie Watts, The Rolling Stones' only drummer for nearly 6 decades, died Tuesday in London ... TMZ has learned.

Charlie was in London's Royal Marsden Hospital when he passed away, and we're told Shirley -- his wife of nearly 57 years -- was by his side. The Stones announced earlier this month that Charlie, their eldest band member, would not be able to play during their upcoming tour because he needed time to recover from a procedure.

A rep for the group tells TMZ, "It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Charlie Watts ... Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also as a member of The Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation."

The band did not reveal what the procedure was. Watts had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2004, but after treatment it went into remission, and he and The Stones immediately launched into a 2-year-long world tour.

In fact, in the band's 58 years, Charlie's never missed a tour ... so it was already a big deal he wouldn't be with his mates -- Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood -- in September when they kick off their latest U.S. tour. As Charlie joked in a statement, "For once my timing has been a little off."

Charlie -- along with Keith, Mick and Brian Jones -- is a founding member of the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band. They all met in 1962, while playing London's blues clubs, and first came together as a band in 1963.

He occasionally toured with his own band too, the Charlie Watts Quintet ... which was more of a jazz act. Charlie's first love was jazz, and he learned to play drums while listening to Charlie Parker records.

Over the years, he's also become famous for being the stylish Stone -- he would commonly wear sharp suits onstage and off. Vanity Fair named Charlie to its International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 2006.

Of course, he's also in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Rolling Stones ... who now have the unenviable task of carrying on without the guy who's been called the soul of the band. Steve Jordan was already sitting in for Charlie, but it's unclear how Watts' death will impact the band's schedule. Their first show is set for Sept. 26 in St. Louis.

Charlie met Shirley before the Stones formed, and they got married the year after that. They have one daughter, Seraphina, and a couple of grandkids.

His passing is the first death for The Stones since Jones drowned in 1969.

Charlie was 80.

The Rolling Stones can't always get what they want -- they'll be touring without their original drummer for the first time in their nearly 6 decades as he recovers from an unspecified medical procedure.

Charlie Watts is 80 -- the oldest of the Stones -- and has been with the band since its inception in 1962, but he says he's going to have to sit out their upcoming U.S. tour "on the advice of the experts that this will take a while."

The good news ... Watts' medical procedure is said to have been a complete success, but time just isn't on his side to make a recovery before the band is set to resume their No Filter tour with a stadium show in St. Louis on Sept. 26.

They've also sold out many other big shows for the fall tour, and Watts will be replaced by his friend, Steve Jordan ... a veteran musician who's played with Keith Richards for years.

Still, the Stones say this is all "very disappointing to say the least, but it’s also fair to say no one saw this coming."

Keith Richards now has the distinct honor of having a cockroach named after him ... and the little bugger even has a custom guitar just like its namesake.

Here's the deal ... The Rolling Stones guitarist is celebrating his 77th birthday Friday, and the Children's Museum in West Hartford, CT is recognizing him with a Madagascar hissing cockroach.

The joke ... Keith and cockroaches have great survival rates. Where's the lie?

As you can see, there's a shiny new miniature bass guitar inside Keith The Cockroach's enclosure. Super-cute ... the guitar, not the roach. Unless you're into that. Although that lil guy slappin' the bass miiiiight cross over into adorable... just sayin'.

Denver's classic rock radio station, 103.5 The Fox, is adopting Keith the Cockroach ... but the roach is staying put at the museum's wildlife sanctuary, where he's expected to live for a long, long, loooooong time just like the real Keith.

Forget mother's little helper -- Mick Jagger's son is on his way to being his father's future replacement!!!

The Rolling Stones front man's 2-year-old look-alike son, Deveraux, and his mom, Mick's girlfriend, Melanie Hamrick, were in the crowd for the band's show in Jacksonville, FL last week ... front and center.

Though Dev didn't appear to be getting much satisfaction watching his dad perform "It's Only Rock 'n Roll" with baby earmuffs on early in the set ... he had plenty of fun dancing around backstage like his old man before the Stones took the stage.

As you can see ... Mom's a fan of her little man's moves.

We're told Dev and Mel only stayed for a few songs -- 2 year olds have early bed times, you know -- but Jagger went on to put on a hell of a show ... and he liked it.

Mick Jagger is back to having nights out on the town -- because neither wild, wild horses nor heart surgery can drag him away ... from an evening of ballet.

The iconic Rolling Stones frontman strolled into NYC's Lincoln Center Thursday night for a performance of "Porte Rouge" ... a ballet starring his 32-year-old GF, Melanie Hamrick. Mick had a stent placed in his heart just 2 weeks ago -- a procedure that forced the Stones to postpone scheduled tour dates this year.

Mick was asked how he's feeling, and his response makes it clear he's on the mend.

Now, obviously he's not back to his hard-partying Studio 54 days yet -- but the ballet's a start. Remember, the dude's 75, after all. Have some sympathy, some courtesy ... and some taste.

The Rolling Stones have pulled the plug on their summer No Filter North American tour because Mick Jagger has health issues.

The Stones announced the cancellation on Facebook, "Unfortunately today the Rolling Stones have had to announce the postponement of their upcoming US / Canada tour dates. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes those who have tickets to shows but wish to reassure fans to hold onto these existing tickets, as they will be valid for the rescheduled dates, which will be announced shortly."

As for why the tour dates were 86'd ... "Mick has been advised by doctors that he cannot go on tour at this time, as he needs medical treatment. The doctors have advised Mick that he is expected to make a complete recovery so that he can get back on stage as soon as possible."

The statement does not disclose the nature of the illness.

The statement ends with a message from Mick ... “I’m so sorry to all our fans in America & Canada with tickets," he said. "I really hate letting you down like this. I’m devastated for having to postpone the tour but I will be working very hard to be back on the road as soon as I can. Once again, huge apologies to everyone.”

This would have been the Stones first North American tour since 2016. It was supposed to fire up April 20 in Miami and end June 29 in Ontario, Canada. The concerts were supposed to dovetail with the release of 10 live tracks.

This would make Tupac Shakur laugh his ass off from heaven (if he were actually dead) -- after Keith Richards ripped hip-hop, he literally had to perform in the shadow of 'Pac ... in Harlem!

The 71-year-old Rolling Stones legend played at the famed Apollo Theater Thursday night during a charity event for the Jazz Foundation of America. In a sweet, sweet coincidence ... one of the projected backdrops behind Keith showed a Tupac mural with the words, "Live by the gun, die by the gun."

Keith went off about hip-hop last month, saying most rappers are “tone-deaf," and only need “a drum beat and someone yelling over it and they’re happy.”

Richards played the Stones classic, "Gimme Shelter." With 'Pac watching ... he could use some.

The Rolling Stones are not only legends on the stage, they go super hard offstage too ... and we've got the rider that proves it.

The Stones recently wrapped up another world tour and one thing they insist on at each stop ... the hotel bar doesn't close. In fact, their hotel rider insists that wherever the band stays, illegal or not -- the place better figure out a way to keep the booze flowing.

Some other kick ass requests ...

-Blacked out windows (so they can party as long as they want)

-Extra butlers, for HUGE room service requests

-After hours dry cleaning, for when things get messy

It's no surprise, Keith and the boys love their cigarettes -- and they demand each hotel room supply plenty. Their brand of choice? Marlboro Reds and Marlboro Lights.

However, there's one thing on the rider that ages the rockers -- they need written out instructions on how to use ALL the electronics in each room.

Bruce Willis and Jack Nicholson scored the hottest ticket in Hollywood Wednesday night -- seats at the Rolling Stones' show in a small theater -- something normal Stones fans struggled to do.

Actually, struggled is an understatement -- but yeah, Bruce, Jack, Andy Garcia, Harry Styles, Scooter Braun, and Joe Pesci were among the huge stars inside the Fonda Theater to see Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the boys warm up for their Zip Code stadium tour.

Tickets went on sale online at noon on Wednesday ... and reportedly sold out in just a few minutes. There's a buzz that NO ONE -- as in non-celebs -- was able to get a seat.

Monica Lewinsky and Charlotte McKinney also made it in, so ... yeah. Altogether now die-hard, regular working class fans -- FML!

Bonus: We got footage of the Stones performing "Start Me Up" ... from across the street and through the bar inside the Fonda. We know, lame -- but it's he best we could do without a ticket.

Chris Martin dropped a GIANT hint he and Gwyneth Paltrow were on the rocks when he revealed his favorite hit by the Rolling Stones -- and it wasn't "Miss You" ... or "She's a Rainbow."

Back in January 2013 -- around the time Chris and Gwyenth say they started "working" on things -- we got Chris in Santa Monica and asked him to pick his #1 Stones tune. Without missing a beat he said, "She's So Cold."

You've gotta see how quickly he answers ... it's pretty telling.

Also telling -- the lyrics:
- Yeah, I tried re-wiring her, tried re-firing her ... I think her engine is permanently stalled
- She was born in an arctic zone
- And when I touch her my hand just froze

On the bright side, Gwyneth ... he didn't say, "Beast of Burden" or "19th Nervous Breakdown."

The 69-year-old man who planned to give a massive explosive to Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards has now offered up a bizarre explanation for his bizarre actions -- he built it as a gift ... because Keith loves explosives.

Joseph Callahan's lawyer tells us, "A friend of Mr. Callahan nine years ago met Keith Richards and he (Callahan) knew Keith Richards liked pyrotechnics, so he built this device in the event he met Keith Richards."

IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW.

As we reported, Callahan was arrested a couple weeks ago after police entered his Connecticut mansion and discovered a terrifying arsenal of guns and explosives, including roughly 100 pounds of ammonium nitrate (the same chemical used in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing).

Callahan told police he was building an explosive to give to Richards, but didn't really explain why at the time. He was, however, adamant about not wanting to harm Keith.