Rolling Stones: new photograph shows fresh faced band in early days

As the Rolling Stones prepare to play Hyde Park, a previously unpublished picture of Mick Jagger and early members of the band from 1964 reveals their transformation from fresh faced youths to the wrinkled rockers they are today.

The Rolling Stones (in a never before published picture) in April 1964 at the NME Poll Winners Concert at Wembley Empire. From left to right: Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, the late Brian Jones and Keith Richards Photo: John Chilton

The Rolling Stones will on Saturday night return to Hyde Park to play their first gig there since their famous free concert 44 years ago.

The band, who have been celebrating 50 years together, have drawn praise for their recent energetic performances at Glastonbury despite their advancing years.

However, the exclusive new picture, which was taken in April 1964 at Wembley Empire, shows the toll the band's rock and roll lifestyles have taken.

Jagger, who was just 20 when the photograph was taken, shows no sign of the deep wrinkles that are now etched onto his face.

Keith Richards, who was also 20, looks like a goofy teenager rather than the rock and roll legend he would later become.

Drummer Charlie Watts, who was 22 in the picture, flashes his distinctive grin while early band members Bill Wyman and Brian Jones, who later died just two days before the 1969 Hyde Park gig, are clutching their instruments.
The photograph was taken by jazz trumpeter and author John Chilton, who was then working with the Swinging Blue Jeans.
The Blue Jeans were also playing at the NME Poll Winners Concert and had just had a big hit with Hippy, Hippy Shake.
Chilton had been chatting about jazz with Watts, who is a lifelong fan of that music, and that year published a cartoon tribute to Charlie Parker, entitled Ode to a High Flying Bird.
The Stones had other links with the jazz world. Jagger was a friend of the late jazz singer George Melly – whom Chilton's Feetwarmers band accompanied for three decades.
Melly is renowned for a celebrated bon mot about Jagger's looks in later life.
He once asked Jagger why his face was so wrinkled. "Laughter lines," the old rocker replied with a grin. Melly quipped: "Nothing is that funny."
_{Mick Jagger with Ronnie Wood and Mick Taylor at Glastonbury last weekend. AP}
The band's original concert in Hyde Park is considered to be one of their most memorable gigs of the Sixties.
It marked the debut of Mick Taylor with the band, who replaced Brian Jones after his death.
At the concert, Jagger read extracts from a poem by Shelley in tribute to Jones, who had been found dead in his swimming pool at home.
Sir Mick has already hinted that Saturday's concert will feature many of the songs from the 1969 set list.
Taylor is also expected to join the band on stage