The Rolling Stones, known for their rebellious image, also had a notorious reputation for their offstage lives, particularly their sexual exploits, according to biographer Bob Spitz.
In his book, "The Rolling Stones: The Biography," Spitz recounts an instance where band members Bill Wyman, Keith Richards, and Mick Jagger attempted to tally their sexual partners over the years. Spitz claims Wyman, who meticulously kept a journal, stopped counting at approximately 1,800 women. Jagger reportedly estimated his total in the hundreds, while Richards, surprisingly, counted only four on his fingers.
This tally challenged the common perception of Richards as the band's biggest womanizer. Spitz suggests that Richards, despite his "baddest of bad boys" image, was actually more romantic, with his life largely dominated by music and drugs, and his significant relationships focused on Anita Pallenberg and his wife, Patti Hansen.
Wyman, however, reinforced the band's reputation for promiscuity. Described as the group's "unrivaled p—-hound," Wyman reportedly had a habit of not wanting to sleep alone, often identifying women near the stage to be invited backstage. Spitz notes that Wyman, who was the oldest and initially the only married member, became the most promiscuous after joining the band. His personal life later drew controversy, particularly his 1989 marriage to Mandy Smith, who was 18 at the time, a union that reportedly "revolted" Jagger due to Smith being younger than Jagger's own daughters. Wyman has since expressed regret over this marriage.
The biography also delves into the overlapping romantic entanglements within the band's circle. Richards reportedly slept with Pallenberg, who also had a relationship with Jagger. Marianne Faithfull reportedly had affairs with Brian Jones, Richards, and Jagger, and was also involved with Jagger while he was seeing Marsha Hunt. Faithfull is quoted as saying Keith Richards was the most romantic man she had ever met.
Brian Jones is credited by Spitz with setting an early tone for the band's reckless image. By age 21, Jones had fathered five children, and the band reportedly paid off paternity suits stemming from his behavior, which Spitz claims paradoxically enhanced their reputation. The band's deliberate choice to be the "anti-Beatles" from their early days involved cultivating an image of insolence and arrogance, rejecting politeness and embracing their "bad boy" persona.
Jones died by drowning in 1969 at age 27, with the coroner ruling it a "death by misadventure."
The book also touches on explicit content, detailing how Jagger and Pallenberg allegedly had sex on film while playing a couple in the 1970 film "Performance." Pallenberg's private journals reportedly confirmed these events. Tensions also arose between Pallenberg and Richards, with Faithfull recalling that even Richards "couldn't handle" the situation.
Despite decades of complex relationships, Spitz emphasizes that the core of the Rolling Stones' longevity lies in the crucial rapport between Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. He describes their relationship as a "love story," highlighting their deep mutual respect, evidenced by Jagger serving as best man at Richards' wedding to Patti Hansen, even during times when they were not on speaking terms.