GOOD TIME GIRLS
The lives and loves of The Rolling Stones
by KOD Staff
The Rolling Stones are world famous for their way with women. Although many of their girlfriends were only involved with the band for a short time, there were some who had a huge influence on the Stones’ music; inspiring or co-writing tracks.
Most were models or musicians and they often caused tense rivalries within the group as many had relationships with several members - exploiting the free-love ethos of the Sixties. In his autobiography, Keith Richards describes his relationship with Mick Jagger as “like two alphas fighting”, especially when it came to women. However, in most cases these women were celebrities in their own right: talented and beautiful – guiding the Stones through their success.
Chrissie Shrimpton, 1968
Chrissie Shrimpton met Mick Jagger when she was still in school. Together for three years (1963 – 1966), their relationship came before the Stone’s widespread success. Jagger was supposedly very controlling of Shrimpton, writing the songs ‘Under My Thumb’ and ‘Yesterday’s Papers’ about their time together and eventually leaving her for Marianne Faithful.
Christa Paffgen by Steve Schapiro, 1965
In June 1967, Christa Paffgen, also known as Nico of The Velvet Underground, went to The Monterey Pop Festival with Brian Jones. The pair had a brief relationship.
Anita Pallenberg by James Baes
On holiday in Morocco, Anita Pallenberg left Brian Jones for Keith Richards. She was with Richards between 1967 and 1979 but Keith claims that she also spent a night with Jagger in this time. Pallenberg had huge influence on the Stones’ music - tracks were remixed on her request and she was the inspiration behind the songs ‘You Got The Silver’ and ‘Happy’, also singing backing vocals on ‘Sympathy for the Devil’.
Marianne Faithfull by John Kelly, 1967
It was Marianne Faithful’s four year relationship with Jagger which introduced her to drugs and during a police raid on Richard’s Sussex farm, Faithful was found wearing only a fur rug. Allegedly, several tracks including ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ and ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ were written about Faithful - she also co-wrote ‘Sister Morphine’with the band.
Anna Wohlin, 1969
Anna Wohlin was the girlfriend of Brian Jones at the time he died. She was the one who dragged his body from the Sussex swimming pool on that tragic day in 1969. Recently Anna has disputed the verdict that Jones died by “misadventure" and instead claims he was killed in a fight with Frank Thorogood, an employee Jones had fired a few days earlier.
Marsha Hunt, 1969
The American singer Marsha Hunt gave birth to Mick Jagger’s daughter in 1970 but Jagger refused to admit he was the child’s father until a decade later. When Mick met Marsha, he was said to be obsessed with her, using her as inspiration for the track, ‘Brown Sugar’.
Bianca Jagger, 1977
Bianca Pérez-Mora Macias married Jagger in 1971 when she was four months pregnant. Here, she rides into Studio 54 for her birthday in 1977. A year later, Bianca filed for divorce due to Jagger’s adultery with Jerry Hall. She later said, “My marriage ended on my wedding day.” Rumored to be the inspiration behind the tracks ‘Luxury’ and ‘Respectable’, she also had a significant impact on the band's sound throughout the Seventies.
Jerry Hall, 1970s
Jerry Hall started seeing Mick Jagger in 1977 and eventually married the rolling stone in a Hindu beach ceremony in 1990. They had four children together before she found out Brazilian model, Luciana Morad was pregnant with Jagger's baby. The marriage was annulled in 1999 and it was said 'Miss You' was written for Hall.
Patti Hansen by Albert Watson, 1977
American model and actress, Patti Hansen married Keith Richards on his fortieth birthday. They met in Studio 54 and Keith wrote in his notebook soon after, “she is the most beautiful specimen in the WORLD. But that ain’t it! …It’s her mind, her joy of life and she thinks this battered junkie is the guy she loves”.
Bebe Buell, 1980
Beverle Lorence "Bebe" Buell was playmate of the month in November 1974. A famous groupie, Buell was well known for having relationships with rock stars, including Mick Jagger and Steven Tyler.
Uschi Obermaier in Lui Magazine, 1973
Uschi Obermaier was a German model linked with politically motivated communes in Berlin. In 1975 she joined the Stones on tour and it was said she had affairs with both Jagger and Richards.
Bill and Mandy Smith
In 1989, 18 year old Mandy Smith married Rolling Stone bassist, Bill Wyman - he was 47. They had been dating since Mandy was only 13 and so, unsurprisingly, their relationship attracted considerable media attention. In 1993, Wyman’s son Stephen became engaged to Mandy’s mother.
