The Rolling Stones drop their song Brown Sugar from setlists amid controversy over its lyrics about slavery

The band say Brown Sugar - their second most played song on tour - is about the "horrors of slavery" despite dropping it as their latest tour kicks off in the US this week.

Chris Lockyer

News reporter @_chrislockyer

Wednesday 13 October 2021 12:47, UK

Ronnie Wood, from left, Mick Jagger, Steve Jordan and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones perform during the "No Filter" tour at The Dome at America's Center on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021 in St. Louis, Mo. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP) PIC:AP
Image: Brown Sugar is said to explore 'the horrors of slavery', as well as sexual assault and drug use. Pic: AP
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The Rolling Stones have said they dropped one of their biggest hits from setlists following controversy over its lyrics about slavery.

Fans will no longer be able to hear Brown Sugar, the group's 1971 number one hit, which is widely considered to have one of the best guitar riffs in history, at the band's gigs.

The lyrics are said to explore "the horrors of slavery", as well as sexual assault and drug use.

Pic: AP OCT 11, 2021 - Mick Jagger, left, Keith Richards, center, and Ron Wood of The Rolling Stones arrive at Hollywood Burbank Airport in Burbank, Calif., Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, ahead of their shows this week at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., for their "NO FILTER" tour. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Image: The Stones have kicked off their latest tour in the US. Pic: AP

When asked why the track had been removed from the setlist, guitarist Keith Richards told the LA Times: "You picked up on that huh?

"I don't know. I'm trying to figure out with the sisters quite where the beef is. Didn't they understand this was a song about the horrors of slavery? But they're trying to bury it.

Lead singer Mick Jagger added: "We've played Brown Sugar every night since 1970.

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"So sometimes you think, 'we'll take that one out for now and see how it goes'.

"We might put it back in."

Addressing criticism of the track, Richards said: "At the moment I don't want to get into conflicts with all of this s***... but I'm hoping that we'll be able to resurrect the babe in her glory somewhere along the track."

Pic: Emily Matthews/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/AP OCT 4th - 2021 The Rolling Stones perform during the band's "No Filter Tour," Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, at Heinz Field on the North Shore in Pittsburgh. (Emily Matthews/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP)
Image: It is the band's first live shows in two years. Pic: Emily Matthews/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/AP

Critics have said the track contains "some of the most stunningly crude and offensive lyrics that have ever been written" and that it is "gross, sexist, and stunningly offensive toward black women".

As far back as 1995, Jagger told Rolling Stone Magazine interview: "I never would write that song now... I would probably censor myself. I'd think, 'oh God, I can't. I've got to stop. I can't just write raw like that'."

Pic: AP Mick Jagger of the rock and roll band The Rolling Stones as he performed for two capacity crowds, June 25, 1972 in Houston. Jagger (c) takes charge of a crowd of young people and really holds them spellbound for the two hour performance. The show went quite smoothly with very few arrests compared to some of the other concerts the Stones have had in other cities in their U.S. tour. (AP Photo)
Image: Brown Sugar was regularly featured in Rolling Stones sets after its 1971 release. Pic: AP

Brown Sugar is the band's second most played song on tour, behind Jumpin' Jack Flash, according to setlist.fm, with the group's latest tour kicking off in the US.

The tour marks the first set of gigs for the veteran rockers in two years, with live shows getting under way in the US following the pandemic.

It is also the group's first live shows since the death of drummer Charlie Watts in August.

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