On May 12, 1968, the Rolling Stones played their final show with founding guitarist Brian Jones. This performance, at the Empire Pool in Wembley, London, marked a pivotal moment in the band's history. While Keith Richards and Mick Jagger are often the faces of the Stones, Jones was the foundation of the band, driven by his passion for the blues. His multi-instrumentalist skills added layers of talent to the band's recordings, from slide guitar to sitar and even oboe. However, his time with the band was coming to an end due to substance abuse, personal conflicts, and creative differences. Jones' drowning in his pool just over a year later was a tragic end to a complex and influential chapter in the Rolling Stones' story.
