VIDEO | The Rolling Stones – Paint It, Black

Home ‣Echoes of the 60s ‣Best 60s Psychedelic & Hard Rock

🡸 Back to "Best 60s Psychedelic & Hard Rock"

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
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"

Get satisfaction with The Rolling Stones! For over six decades, this legendary British band defined rock and roll. Led by Mick Jagger's iconic strut and Keith Richards' timeless riffs, their blues-drenched rock sound conquered the world, earning them the title of "Greatest Rock and Roll Band."

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

Their unparalleled catalog boasts signature electrifying guitar riffs anchoring raw blues rock power. It explores psychedelic textures, country-infused swagger, infectious disco grooves, dark atmospheric warnings, and pure, rebellious rock and roll anthems that remain essential cornerstones of music history spanning multiple decades...

Go to "The Rolling Stones" Page

BAND | The Rolling Stones

"Miss You"

Feel the irresistible groove of The Rolling Stones' 1978 global smash hit, "Miss You"! This iconic track from the Some Girls album masterfully blends rock with disco, soul, and dance-rock elements. Driven by a killer bassline, it conquered charts and dance floors worldwide.