The Rolling Stones didn’t become the world’s most dangerous band by chance. They built their reputation on pushing boundaries, shocking audiences, and making headlines for all the wrong reasons. The band thrived on this rebellious image, often seeking out controversy for the thrill of it.
In the conservative 1960s, pop culture still had many unspoken taboos. The Stones challenged these norms, slipping references to sex and drugs into their lyrics. Yet, they were subtle enough to ensure their songs were still played on the radio.
However, while the band loved courting controversy, they also had to tread carefully. Decca Records, their label, had the final say on any release, which kept them from unleashing their most outrageous track.
The Stones embraced their wild reputation whenever they could. A prime example is from 1978, when Mick Jagger was asked by NBC News about accusations that their latest album was racist and sexist. He cheekily responded, “The next record is going to be more racist and more sexist, and it is going to be a whole bunch better.”
While there was a punk attitude behind the remark, it highlighted the band’s willingness to provoke outrage intentionally.
In one of their boldest moves, the Stones set out to offend with purpose. By 1970, the band was still under contract with Decca Records but had grown frustrated. They wanted to follow The Beatles’ example, leave their label, and start their own, gaining greater control over their music and royalties. The problem was they owed Decca one more single to complete their contract.
Tensions with Decca had reached a boiling point, so the Stones devised a cheeky plan: they would create a single so offensive it could never be played on the radio. That’s how the notorious track ‘Cocksucker Blues’ came to be, later renamed ‘Schoolboy Blues.’
The song was filled with explicit and provocative content designed to force Decca’s hand. The band knew that if Decca released the song, they would share the blame for the outrage it caused, making it a lose-lose situation for the label.
Legally, though, The Rolling Stones had fulfilled their obligation, turning the stunt into a brilliant contractual loophole. As a result, ‘Cocksucker Blues’ was shelved, never seeing the light of day as an official release.
Still, Decca got its revenge in a different way, releasing a compilation album called Stone Age. The Stones were furious, denouncing the record with full-page ads that read:
“We didn’t know this record was going to be released. It is, in our opinion, below the standard we try to keep up, both in choice of content and cover design.”
That seemed to be the end of the saga—until 1983. A German box set, The Rolling Stones Story – Part 2, accidentally included ‘Cocksucker Blues.’ Though the set was quickly pulled, fans had already copied the track, and the song became a rare underground sensation.
Despite the risks, The Rolling Stones emerged mostly unscathed from the stunt. While ‘Cocksucker Blues’ could have caused serious damage to their career if widely released, the band’s calculated gamble paid off, and they managed to dodge the worst consequences.
