It's hard to believe that today marks thirty years since I first met the Stones, outside a nightclub in New York City.  June 26, 1980.

I've written extensively about that day in "Under Their Thumb," but a new thought just occurred to me:  My encounter with the Stones that day foreshadowed my future relationships with them.  Mick was moody and aloof, Keith and Ronnie were friendly and inviting, Bill Wyman was quiet yet pleasant, and Charlie was absent.

I was 17 years old when I met them, and it was two days after my high school graduation.  You might say I experienced TWO graduations that week -- and I don't need to tell you which one had the bigger impact on my life.