The Stones: A history

REBECCA CALDWELL

Toronto, Maple Leaf Gardens April 25, 1965It was girls, girls, shrieking hysterical girls when the Rolling Stones -- Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Keith Richard (as he was known in those early days, to distinguish himself from Cliff Richards, as if anybody would ever confuse the two) played their first Toronto gig, but only four had to be treated for fainting spells by the St. John Ambulance attendants on hand. Sixty police officers had been posted to the concert to prevent the crowd of about 10,000 from climbing the stage during the show, and prevent them from storming the backstage. As for the music, reviewers complained that 'no melody was audible' -- just noise from guitars cranked to the limit, constant throbbing from the drum kit and screams from hysterical fans in what the Globe called a "ferocious one-night stand."