Rarely Seen Photos Capture Rolling Stones 1964 Visit to Chicago

WDCB’s Gary Zidek visits the new ROLLING STONES AT CHESS exhibition currently on display at the former home of Chess Records.

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WDCB 90.9 FM · The Arts Section: Photos Capture Rolling Stones 1964 Chicago Visit

WDCB's Gary Zidek visits a new Rolling Stones photo exhibition on display in Chicago.

“They returned on June 11th, and finished their sessions. That day Muddy Waters came by to see what they were all about, because they got their name from his song ‘Rollin’ Stone’. He actually helped them carry their gear up the back stairs, where all the musicians entered the backdoor from the ally.” - Janine Judge talking about the Rolling Stones visit to Chess Records in June of 1964.

Janine Judge, the director of the Willie Dixon Blues Heaven Foundation

The Rolling Stones kicked off their North American tour in Chicago last week. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the first Rolling Stones concert in Chicago, it took place November 15th 1964 at the Arie Crown Theater.

But the legendary group’s first visit to Chicago actually occurred several months earlier. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts spent two days at Chess Records’ recording studio.

 A new photo exhibit, presented by the Willie Dixon Blues Heaven Foundation and the Bob Bonis Museum, offers a candid look at the band’s recording session at Chess and time spent at the Palmer House Hotel.

A look at some of the memorabilia and photos on display at the Blues Heaven Foundation

Photos that are part of the Rolling Stones At Chess exhibition

Janine Judge is the director of Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation. She and Jacqueline Dixon had been thinking of a way to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the Stones’ Chess visit for the past few years. They approached the Bob Bonis Museum about using a photo of the group at Chess, and the idea grew into plans for a full blown exhibition of images from that visit.

Photo of Keith Richards and Mick Jagger in Chicago in June of 1964

Photo of Mick Jagger watching himself on TV at the Palmer House Hotel in June 1964

Judge hopes the exhibition, which is on display through the end of the month, helps create some local awareness for the Blues Heaven Foundation.

A look at the main recording studio on the second floor of the Chess Records building.

The Willie Dixon Blues Heaven Foundation, which is based in the Chess Records building at 2120 South Michigan Avenue, offers tours Tuesdays through Saturdays in the afternoon.

THE ROLLING STONES AT CHESS photo exhibit is on display through June 29th. Go to bluesheaven.com for more information.