LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES AUGUST 31, 2019- FIFTY ONE YEARS AGO THE ROLLING STONES GAVE US THE SINGLE ‘STREET FIGHTING MAN.’ THE SONG DEALS WITH THE CIVIL UNREST IN EUROPE AND AMERICA IN 1968. THERE WERE STUDENT RIOTS IN LONDON AND PARIS, AND PROTESTS IN AMERICA. MICK JAGGER TOOK PART IN ON OF THESE PROTESTS IN LONDON BUT LEFT BEFORE IT TURNED VIOLENT. THE STONES RELEASED THIS SONG ON THIS DATE IN 1968. IT WAS A FEW DAYS AFTER THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN CHICAGO WHICH WAS MARRED BY VIOLENCE. MOST RADIO STATIONS IN AMERICA REFUSED TO PLAY THE SONG FOR FEAR IT WOULD INCITE MORE VIOLENCE. THERE WAS NO OFFICIAL BAN IN AMERICA, BUT STATIONS FELT IT WAS IN THERE BEST INTEREST TO IGNORE THE SONG.
MICK JAGGER LATER SAID : “The radio stations that banned the song told me that ‘Street Fighting Man’ was subversive. ‘Of course it’s subversive,’ we said. It’s stupid to think you can start a revolution with a record. I wish you could!”
HERE ARE THE STONES PERFORMING ‘STREET FIGHTING MAN’ CIRCA 1969
