A Book Review: The Sun & The Moon & The Rolling Stones by Rich Cohen

The first post of the year is about a book I read during the New Year holiday period. I might say it is one of the best books written about the Stones (that I've read of course), well maybe not as good as Keith Richards' "Life" but still a very entertaining book. It is well written and interesting because it is not a biographical book per se but a very good source to understand Rock'n'Roll and the era under the shining glamour of the Rolling Stones.


You might have heard the name of the writer, Rich Cohen, who was one of the co-creators of the HBO series "Vinyl" along with Martin Scorsese, Mick Jagger and Terence Winter. The show was staged in the 70s and revived the US musical scene from the eyes of a record executive.
He is also a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone magazines.

English Version (Spiegel & Grau)

Turkish Translation (Domingo)

The writer had the opportunity to tour and travel with the band in the 90's for the Rolling Stone magazine (he was in his mid 20's by then). Therefore the reader can easily understand that he has gotten really close with the band members. I can say that this book is not a biography of the band neither gives any new information about the band. However Rich Cohen's research, stories/observations about the Rock world and the musicians he mentions in the book are quite marvelous. For me it was a book that I could not put down.

Cohen takes the reader through the Stone’s amazing history, professional highs and lows, specific albums that were of significance, personal struggles, especially those of Keith Richards, who was center stage in Cohen's mind, stealing the spotlight away from Mick Jagger. I think he believes it is Keith Richards who really reflects the soul of the band...

The fascinating thing about the book is that the writer does not tell the reader "what happened", but "how and why all those events happened".

The book also pays tribute to the ex-members of the band, especially Brian Jones and all the musicians that had an impact on the Stones' musical development such as Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson.

You can also find the "Beatles vs. Rolling Stones" comparison all over the book with their main differences based on the characteristics of both bands. All the insights why music, especially Rock'n'Roll, was so different in those years and what made those bands so great and timeless, are clearly explained by Rich Cohen.

Rolling Stones "Sympathy for the Devil"
Footage from the infamous Altamont, CA concert

So as a conclusion, for anyone who loves the Stones – read it. For music aficionados who are curious about the music and the world of the 60's and onward, give it a try. And for those who simply want to read fascinating revelations about one of the very best bands ever, this is for you, too.