I was 16 in 1968. A long, long time ago. It even amazes me just how long ago it was. At that time the UK dominated some of the pop music industry with band's such as The Beatles.

However those groups from Liverpool were not for me. As a rebellious youngster I wanted my idols to have some oompf which is exactly what The Rolling Stones had..

When I was a young teenager just a mere hint of The Rolling Stones was enough to drive parents to distraction. Guaranteed to offend any adults the Stones were just perfect for those kids with a rebellious streak, like me!.

Looking back, especially at the black and white image above, The Stones actually look very inoffensive. However back in the early to mid sixties the length of their hair alone was classed as dreadful. The band were usually reported as being scruffy and wild. If The Stones were on tour and visiting your town it was definitely a case of parents running to lock up their daughters.

I loved the Stones though as much for their music back then as their persona.

Early classic Stones singles such as The Last Time, Little Red Rooster and Not Fade Away all found their way onto my gramophone. Yes there were no C.D players back then. These singles were played at 45rpm on my Dansette record player, This bright orange and brown machine was the business back then. Sure, I had to rest a two shilling piece on the arm if I wanted to play some records. The weight this coin added was enough to stop some tracks from jumping.

I had all of The Rolling Stones early albums, or L.Ps as they were at the time. I knew I had moved on from this band when I eventually sold all my early Stones L.Ps. However I still have the really old Stones singles stashed away in a trunk. Perhaps it is a way of retaining a part of my youth.

As a silly young girl I broke my heart when member's of this band were arrested and charged with drug offences, and broke it properly when Brian Jones suddenly died.

This band though had durability and is still touring to this day with its main members. Seeing Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, at a local theatre recently, partially redressed one of my missed opportunities from the past.

I was only 12 when The Stones rolled into my town. Rightly so I was not allowed to go and see them, although I was already a fan. It was strange then watching the Rhythm Kings 45 years later.

This Hub popped into my head after reading the question "Who was your favourite band when you were 16?", in the HubPages forum pages. This question brought back vivid memories such as:-

• The Rolling Stones on Ready Steady Go.
• Listening to this music with a good friend of the day, who was as much a fan as I was.
• My parents grimacing when this band appeared on TV

The sixties produced some great bands and musicians. In the UK of course there were The Beatles. When I was not so sweet 16 though The Beatles were far too respectable for me.

I was a rebel without a clue, and I probably still am.