In 1972, The Rolling Stones were exiles from the punitive British tax system that took 90 per cent of their earnings. Despite their success, they had no money, and had to leave the UK to pay their debts.
They landed in Villa Nellcote, Keith Richards’ rented home in the south of France. Over several chaotic months, fuelled by wine and heroin, the Stones and their extended “family”, recorded enough tracks for a double album.
Despite the odds, Exile On Main Street stands as their finest album, a ragged creative peak, oozing all the influences that made the Rolling Stones such a compelling act from 1962 onwards – country, blues, rock, funk and soul. It’s all there.
And here we are, 50 years on. The album stands, unsurpassed by anything they’ve done since.
