Aim Quote by William S. Burroughs
“What originally established the band was cover songs like Not Fade Away. Then, later on, we got more well-known ones like Satisfaction, which you might say echoed the thinking of, well, any generation you care to name, including the present one. But we didn't set out on bits of paper that we were going to be the voice of a generation. The original aim of the Rolling Stones was to play blues. It wasn't even to play rock music.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Rolling Stones origins, 1970s
The Stones began as a blues cover band, not a generational voice, and their early aim was musical exploration rather than cultural leadership.
In simple terms: They started as blues cover artists, not a generational voice.
Recognize origins before assigning cultural labels.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- band formation
- music history
- cultural analysis
- genre evolution
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does a band's early purpose shape its legacy?
- Can a group become a voice of a generation unintentionally?
Later reinterpretations can obscure original intent.