.

Controversial Stones Cover Finally Turned Down by Label

"It's been a complete waste of energy," says Jagger

December 7, 1968
Rolling Stones Keith Richards Mick Jagger Brian Jones BIll Wyman Charlie Watts
The original rejected album cover artwork of The Rolling Stone's 1968 album 'Beggar's Banquet'.
GAB Archive/Redferns

LONDON—"I've lost interest in that situation," says Mick Jagger of the controversy over the Stones' proposed bathroom-graffiti album cover, which has been finally turned down by Decca/London Records in favor of a simple and uncontroversial one.

"It's been a complete waste of energy," Mick told the New Musical Express. "We agreed to them using a different sleeve in the end and it still hasn't been realized yet. They change their minds all the time about it – come and go!"

Unofficial word from London Records, however, is that Beggar's Banquet will be released in a matter of days, some time around November 20th. The new cover will be an open invitation card to join the "beggar's banquet"—vividly and dingily illustrated on the inside cover.

Jagger promises a new single by Christmastime, perhaps featuring the sound of his newly-bought Moog Synthesizer. Says Mick, "I haven't written anything yet, but we'll do it the usual way by getting it together in the studio at the time."

This story is from the December 7, 1968 issue of Rolling Stone.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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