Guitarist's death to hit big screen

Producer Stephen Wooley is making his directorial debut with a film about the life and death of Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones

Nov  5 2004

Work is well underway on the movie of the death of Brian Jones, the baby-faced Rolling Stones guitarist who drowned at the bottom of his swimming pool in July 1969.

Stephen Woolley, producer of such modern British classics as 'The Crying Game' and 'Mona Lisa' is making his directorial debut with the film, called 'The Wild and Wycked World of Brian Jones'.

At the time the authorities concluded that the rock star's death was a simple case of accidental drowning thanks to the small amount of barbiturates and alcohol found in the guitarists blood.

Woolley has other ideas however, favouring the theory that Jones was murdered, and that Frank Thoroughgood, the builder who was working on Jones’ house at the time, may have had something to do with the death.

The story will also detail the early days of the Stones as well as the guitarist's strained relationship with his fellow band members in the months leading up to that fatal night. But Woolley is keen to point out that Jones is very much the central character of the piece: 'It's not Mick and Keith's story,' he told Time Out's Dave Calhoun, 'I didn't want to feel compromised by having to make a film that reflects their thoughts....The film is in no way against the Stones, though. It's just about Brian.'

Filming is currently taking place in deepest Surrey, with Leo Gregory ('Out Of Control') playing the doomed rocker, with David Morrissey as Stones road manager Tom Keylock and Paddy Considine playing Thoroughgood.

'The Wild and Wycked World of Brian Jones' is due to open next year and a full set report appears in Time Out London November 3-10 2004. Issue No.1785.