Brian Jones is sacked from The Rolling Stones on June 10th 1969. On July 3rd, Jones is found dead. 2 days later The Stones played the Hyde Park Concert. As a dedication and tribute to Jones thousands of butterflies were to be released.
"Jagger wanted to release these white butterflies so I had to liaise with a butterfly farm in the West Country and the parks people who were concerned the wrong sort of butterflies might upset then ecosystem of the park.
Early on the morning of the concert I went to Paddington to collect boxes of butterflies. I peeped inside and as far as I could see it was full of dead butterflies. I called the farm in a panic and said "They're dead!" And they said they're not dead, they're cold, they are sleeping, you've got to warm them up.
How the fuck are we going to warm them up? We had these two hot plates, the sort that students use to heat baked beans, and so we put the boxes on them. I think one caught fire. When Mick opened the boxes, some of the butterflies flew away, but most dropped senseless to the stage. They weren't dead, they were cold. They only died when they got trodden on."
Andrew King. (promoter). Uncut Magazine. Aug.2013.
44 years later, tomorrow July 6th and also July 13th they play Hyde Park again.
No butterflies allowed.
