Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones Honored with Statue in His Hometown of Cheltenham
Cheltenham, UK — June 4, 2025
Nearly six decades after shaping the sound of one of the most iconic rock bands in history, Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones — better known as Brian Jones, the founding member of The Rolling Stones — has been honored with a life-size bronze statue in his hometown of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
The unveiling ceremony, held in the heart of Pittville Park, drew hundreds of fans, historians, and music legends who came to pay tribute to the man whose musical genius helped define an era. The statue, commissioned by a local arts trust and sculpted by acclaimed British artist Martin Jennings, stands as a powerful reminder of Jones’s groundbreaking contributions to rock and roll.
A Tribute Long Overdue
Often referred to as the “original Rolling Stone,” Brian Jones founded the band in 1962 and was widely known for his multi-instrumental talent, playing everything from guitar and sitar to marimba and Mellotron. His sonic experimentation laid the foundation for the group’s early sound and positioned them as a counterpoint to The Beatles in the early 1960s.
Despite his vital role in shaping the band’s direction, Jones’s legacy had often been overshadowed by his turbulent exit from the group in 1969 and his tragic death just weeks later at the age of 27. Now, more than 50 years later, Cheltenham is making sure that his legacy receives the lasting recognition it deserves.
“Brian Jones wasn’t just a local boy who made it big — he changed music forever,” said Mayor Elizabeth Carr during the ceremony. “This statue is not just a tribute to his fame, but to his artistic courage and restless creativity.”
The Sculpture: Art Meets Icon
The bronze statue captures Jones in his mid-20s prime, wearing his signature mod fashion: slim trousers, Chelsea boots, and a shaggy haircut that defined the look of London’s Swinging Sixties. In one hand, he holds a guitar; in the other, a recorder — a nod to his genre-defying ability to bring classical and world instruments into rock music.
Sculptor Martin Jennings described the creative process as “deeply emotional and incredibly personal.”
“Brian was an innovator,” Jennings said. “I wanted to capture his intensity, his restless spirit, and the beauty he brought to music. He burned bright and fast, but his impact endures.”
The statue now stands at the edge of Pittville Park’s boating lake, not far from Jones’s childhood home. Fans have already begun laying flowers, vintage vinyl records, and handwritten letters at its base.
Endorsement from Rolling Stones Members
Though the surviving Rolling Stones did not attend the ceremony in person, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards both sent statements recognizing their former bandmate.
“Brian was the one who brought us together. Without him, there wouldn’t be a Rolling Stones,” Jagger wrote. “He had a deep musical curiosity that inspired us all in those early days.”
Keith Richards added, “We had our battles, sure, but Brian was the heart of it at the start. It’s about time people remember that.”
Charlie Watts, the longtime drummer of the Stones who passed away in 2021, had once remarked in an interview, “Brian was a troubled genius. He was first through the door, and we followed.”
Legacy Revisited
In addition to the statue unveiling, the Cheltenham History Museum launched a temporary exhibit titled “Paint It Brian: The Life and Legacy of Brian Jones”, showcasing rare photographs, vintage Rolling Stones gear, handwritten letters, and unreleased demos.
Music historians see this moment as part of a broader movement to re-examine Jones’s legacy and acknowledge his foundational role in British rock.
“Brian Jones was the architect of The Rolling Stones,” said Dr. Helen Grant, a musicologist at the University of Oxford. “He scouted the band members, gave them their name, managed bookings, and was the musical trailblazer before commercial pressures and internal tensions pushed him to the sidelines.”
Jones’s mysterious death in July 1969 — found at the bottom of his swimming pool in Sussex — remains a point of speculation and fascination, adding a layer of myth to his already complex persona. Though ruled accidental, alternative theories persist, and his story has long been wrapped in a tragic, romantic mystique.
A Healing Moment for Cheltenham
For Cheltenham residents, this tribute serves as a long-awaited celebration of one of their own. Born in the spa town in 1942, Jones attended local schools and was known as a gifted, if rebellious, student with a precocious love for jazz and blues.
“It’s beautiful to see the town honor him,” said Margaret Holloway, 78, who attended school with Jones. “He was different from the start — curious, fiery, full of ideas. Even then, you could tell he was headed somewhere big.”
The town has plans to incorporate Jones’s legacy into future tourism efforts, including a “Brian Jones Music Trail” and an annual memorial concert at the Cheltenham Town Hall.
Looking Ahead
As the statue stood gleaming in the summer sun, backed by the hum of guitar riffs played by a local youth band covering Ruby Tuesday, it was clear that Brian Jones’s influence is not just history — it’s alive in the chords and verses of each new generation inspired by his fearlessness.
In a time where musical legacies are often rewritten and rediscovered, Brian Jones is finally getting his due — not just as a fallen rock star, but as a visionary who changed the shape of sound forever.
As the plaque beneath his statue reads:
“Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones — Musician, Visionary, Rolling Stone.”
