Part 1: The Story of The Rolling Stones: The world's greatest rock & roll survivors

Part 1: The Story of The Rolling Stones: The world's greatest rock & roll survivors

Author: Dave Anthony August 29, 2025 Duration: 1:04:05

Experience one of music's big bang moments when 19-year-old Mick Jagger, carrying a handful of RnB albums, ran into Keith Richards on a train platform. Together, they would overcome tragedy, addictions, death and mayhem of all sorts to make it to the top and stay there.  This isn't just the tale of a band, it's the saga of survival, reinvention and rebellion, and at its core, it's the story of two kids from Dartford, Mick and Keith, who led The Stones to became undisputed icons of rock and roll. In Part 1 you'll learn. 

  1. How fate intervened to bring all of The Stones together as a band
  2. Who really founded The Stones and the strange origins of the band name  
  3. The role that two women played in influencing their music 
  4. About one of the first famous deaths in rock 
  5. The financial mayhem they faced & the role of a mysterious Prince 
  6. Some of the factors that drove their dark songs like Gimme Shelter & Sympathy for the Devil

Want to learn more music history?  
Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channels

Guest Bio
Christopher Sanford is the author of The Rolling Stones: 60 years, he's written acclaimed biographies of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Paul McCartney, Sting and Kurt Cobain, as well as books on John F Kennedy and Roman Polanski. For more than two decades, he's written about music and film for major media outlets on both sides of the Atlantic. Rolling Stone magazine has called him "the preeminent author in his field". 



GARAGE TO STADIUMS Music History Podcast digs into the gritty, human stories behind the meteoric rises of rock's most iconic figures. Host Dave Anthony guides each episode, but the real depth comes from his guests-authors who have penned definitive biographies or filmmakers who have crafted intimate documentaries about these artists. Together, they unpack the pivotal moments, the forgotten early songs, and the sheer luck or stubborn determination that propelled bands from humble, often chaotic beginnings to selling out the world's largest venues. This isn't just a timeline of hits; it's a conversation about the struggle, the creative bursts, and the industry machinery that defines a journey from obscurity to legend. You'll hear the music that shaped them, the anecdotes that reveal their character, and a clear-eyed look at the price of fame. For anyone who believes the best rock and roll stories are found off the stage and in the van, the dive bar, and the rehearsal space, this podcast offers a compelling, detailed archive. Tune in for a masterclass in music history that feels less like a lecture and more like a backstage pass to the turning points that changed culture.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

GARAGE TO STADIUMS Music History Podcast
Podcast Episodes
The Story of Pink Floyd: The architects of sound and vision [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:08
Witness the rise of Pink Floyd from 1960s psychedelic early architects to experimenting with grand, cinematic soundscapes, deeply philosophical themes and live shows that felt more like journeys to the human mind than co…
The Story of U2: From near breakup to stadium legends [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:42
Incredibly, U2 began as a band of barely-formed teenagers—two 14-year-olds and two 15-year-olds—at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin, Ireland. Just 4 years later, they were signed to a major label, and not long…
The Story of David Bowie: The brave chameleon of rock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:59
David Bowie was the ultimate chameleon of rock, constantly reinventing himself throughout his career. This episode starts with his struggles from his multiple failed attempts at stardom. Despite these challenges, Bowie’s…
The Story of The Clash: They survived punk and mastered many genres [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:34
Our guest, Chris Salewicz, was there at the dawn of punk in 1976 England, witnessing firsthand the birth of The Clash and Sex Pistols. Chris attended the first ever performances of both bands and will share insider stori…
The Story of Elton John: One half of the duo who changed pop forever [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:31
One of the most astonishing transformations in music history began with an earnest, bespectacled pianist named Reginald Kenneth Dwight — a shy kid who dreamed of writing songs for others. Our guest will take us inside th…
The Story of Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run album (50th Anniversary) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:47
This special episode dives into one of the most pivotal moments in rock history. With a new Bruce Springsteen biopic hitting theatres this month, we uncover the real story behind the making of an epic album — and the des…