March 6th: The Rolling Stones Start Recording “Paint It Black”

On March 6, 1966, The Rolling Stones began recording one of their most famous songs, “Paint It Black”. This song quickly became a classic, and people still love it today. Let’s look at how this song was made and how people reacted to it.

RELATED: February 13: Frank Sinatra Started Reprise Records and Changes the Game For Classic Rock

What Inspired "Paint It Black"

Paint It Black was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the main songwriters for the band. The song is about feeling sad and lost and wanting to escape those feelings. 

Mick and Keith wrote the song to show the pain that comes with losing someone or something important. The idea of “painting it black” is a way of saying that you want to hide or cover up bad feelings. 

The song also became special because Brian Jones, the band's guitarist, played a sitar in It, which gave “Paint It Black” a unique and cool sound that no one had heard before.

How People Liked the Song

When Paint It Black came out, people were really curious about it. The song’s mix of rock and sitar was new and exciting. Fans and music critics liked it because it was different from what they had heard before. 

Even though the Rolling Stones were known for fast, energetic rock songs, “Paint It Black” had a darker, more serious feeling.

At first, some people didn’t know what to think about the sitar. But after hearing it a few times, they understood how cool it sounded in the song. Soon, “Paint It Black” became a favorite of many music lovers.

How the Song Did on the Charts

“Paint It Black” became a huge hit. In the United States, it reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed there for two weeks. It also reached #1 in the UK. This success helped The Rolling Stones become even more famous around the world. 

The song showed that they could make different types of music, not just fast rock songs.

Today, Paint It Black is still one of the Rolling Stones' most popular songs. It’s often played in concerts and is loved by many fans, old and new.

Conclusion

On March 6, 1966, when The Rolling Stones began recording “Paint It Black”, they didn’t know it would become such a big hit. The song’s mix of rock and sitar made it stand out, and its deep lyrics connected with people. The song is still remembered as one of the Rolling Stones’ best songs, and it will always be a classic.

Other Notable Rock Events From March 6

1967 - The Beatles recorded the sound effects for their song “Sgt Peppers Lonely Heartsclub Band”.

1970 - Charles Manson released an album titled Lie in order to fund his defence for the Tate Lebianca murder trial.

1970 - David Bowie released his follow-up single to his hit “Space Oddity” the new single was called “The Prettiest Star”. It only sold roughly 800 copies and wasn’t considered a success

1971 - Led Zeppelin played their first show in Dublin. During the show, they performed “Stairway To Heaven” for just the second time

1973 - Slade hit number one on the UK charts for the fourth time with their song “Cum On Feel The Noize”. 

1998 - Liam Gallagher was brought before a court after being charged for headbutting a fan at a show. He was released on bail later that day

Rock Birthdays

1946 - David Gilmore of Pink Floyd (Guitar)

1964 - Stephen Bier of Marilyn Manson (Keyboard)

On This Day In History - March 6

Wow, March 6th is rich in rock history! From legendary songs to sold-out performances today meant a lot to rock n’ roll! Keep on rocking in the free world and I’ll see you next week!