VIDEO | The Rolling Stones – Paint It, Black

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BAND | The Rolling Stones

"Paint It, Black"

Last updated 📅 2025-04-11

Immerse yourself in the dark psychedelia of The Rolling Stones' iconic 1966 masterpiece, "Paint It, Black." Defined by Brian Jones' haunting sitar riff and a frantic rhythm, this track became a global number one hit, showcasing the band's experimental side and influencing raga rock.

TITLE: Paint It, Black
BAND: The Rolling Stones
GENRE: Psychedelic, Raga Rock
OTHER: Cruisin Classic
RELEASEDAY: May 07
YEAR: 1966

Released as a groundbreaking single in 1966 and featured on the US version of the album Aftermath, "Paint It, Black" marked a significant sonic departure for The Rolling Stones. Its innovative use of sitar, combined with Bill Wyman's driving bass and Charlie Watts' propulsive drumming, created a unique psychedelic and raga rock soundscape.

This 1966 classic captures profound despair through Mick Jagger's bleak vocal delivery and the song's modal melody. The fusion of Eastern instrumentation with rock energy made "Paint It, Black" a landmark recording of the psychedelic era and one of the Stones' most enduring and powerful songs.

SONG MEANING: The lyrics express overwhelming grief, darkness, and depression following the death of a loved one. The singer wants everything around them to reflect their inner turmoil ("I see a red door and I want it painted black"), unable to experience joy or color ("I have to turn my head until my darkness goes") due to the magnitude of their loss.

Band

"The Rolling Stones"

Often called "The World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band," these legendary British icons have defined rock music for decades. Anchored by an iconic frontman/guitarist duo, their blues-drenched sound, rebellious attitude, and electrifying live shows cemented their unparalleled status and influence.

TITLE: The Rolling Stones
ACTIVE: 1962–present (1962)
BAND: The Rolling Stones

Active continuously since the early sixties, their remarkable career includes groundbreaking experimental phases. Around nineteen sixty-six, they released major international hits near the seventh day of May that incorporated unique world music instrumentation and dark textures, masterfully blending pioneering psychedelic and raga styles with their foundational rock and roll power, alongside countless other blues, rock, and disco-influenced classics throughout their history...

THE ROLLING STONES: Paint It, Black, One Hit (to the Body), (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Start Me Up, Miss You, Honky Tonk Women, Brown Sugar, Gimme Shelter, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Beast of Burden

Go to "The Rolling Stones" Page

BAND | The Rolling Stones

"One Hit (to the Body)"

Feel the impact of The Rolling Stones' hard-hitting 1986 rock track, "One Hit (to the Body)"! The powerful opener from Dirty Work, this song features intense guitar interplay, including a contribution from Jimmy Page, delivering a raw, aggressive hard rock statement.