Rolling Stones Gear
All the Stones' Instruments from Stage to Studio
📘 About This Book
Rolling Stones Gear is the first book to historically document all of the Rolling Stones' musical equipment. It's also the story of the Rolling Stones, but with a new twist: their history as told through the instruments they used. This book covers not only the group's personal background, but also every tour and studio session from their inception in 1962 to date, with detailed documentation illustrating what instruments and equipment were used during these periods. Every song recorded by the band, including demos and out-takes are also documented, with input from within the Stones' ranks as well as from people who were involved with the band. This lavishly illustrated book contains hundreds of photographs and rare images, many of which have never been published, including the Rolling Stones' actual guitars and equipment, which were specially photographed for this book and are seen here for the first time. Whether you are a musician, a Stones fan or just the casual reader, you will learn many new facts about the band from their monumental fifty-year existence. Win the brands of the Rolling Stones!Check out this fabulous Guitar Player Magazine contest!
📖 Summary
Rolling Stones Gear by Andy Babiuk is a comprehensive, historically exhaustive examination of the iconic rock and roll band, told entirely through the lens of the musical instruments and equipment they used. Spanning an impressive 673 pages and published in 2023, this lavishly illustrated volume offers a fresh and innovative twist on traditional band biographies. Instead of focusing solely on the interpersonal drama, cultural impact, or standard biographical milestones, Babiuk meticulously chronicles the group's journey from their inception in 1962 to the present day by tracking every guitar, amplifier, drum kit, and piece of studio hardware that helped forge their legendary sound. The book provides a meticulous, chronological deep dive into every single tour and studio session the Rolling Stones ever undertook. Every song the band ever recorded, including rare demos and unreleased out-takes, receives careful documentation regarding the specific gear employed during its creation. This level of detail ensures that readers gain a profound understanding of how the band's sonic identity evolved over the decades, transitioning from their early rhythm and blues covers to the massive stadium-filling rock anthems of later years. To achieve such a high degree of historical accuracy, Babiuk draws not only on extensive research but also on direct input from members within the Rolling Stones ranks as well as producers, engineers, and technicians who were closely involved with the band behind the scenes. This insider perspective elevates the text from a mere gear catalog into an authentic oral and technical history of one of the greatest rock bands in history. Furthermore, the book is a visual treasure trove, containing hundreds of photographs and rare images. Many of these historical artifacts have never before been published, offering fans and music historians an unprecedented look at the physical tools of the trade that shaped modern rock music. Whether detailing the vintage guitars strummed in cramped 1960s recording studios or the massive backline rigs deployed on world-spanning concert tours, Rolling Stones Gear serves as the definitive reference guide for anyone fascinated by the intersection of music history, technology, and rock and roll culture.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Unprecedented historical documentation of the band's equipment from 1962 onward.
Features hundreds of rare and previously unpublished photographs.
Includes insider input from band members and people involved with the group.
Covers every song, tour, and studio session including demos and out-takes.
⚠️ Cons
The massive length and heavy focus on technical gear may overwhelm casual fans.
The sheer volume of detailed information is primarily suited for dedicated music historians and equipment enthusiasts.
❓ FAQ
Who is the author of Rolling Stones Gear? +
The book was written by Andy Babiuk.
What year was this edition published? +
This comprehensive volume was published in 2023.
How many pages does the book contain? +
The book spans 673 pages of detailed documentation and imagery.
What unique perspective does the book take on the band's history? +
It tells the history of the Rolling Stones through the musical instruments and equipment they used.
Does the book cover unreleased material like demos? +
Yes, every song recorded by the band, including demos and out-takes, is documented with input from people involved with the group.
