The Unexpected Connection Between The Rolling Stones And Rice Krispies
The Rolling Stones are synonymous with cool. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Bill Wyman, Mick Taylor, Darryl Jones, and the late Charlie Watts and Brian Jones are among the greatest legends in the history of rock 'n roll. With dozens of studio albums in their catalog, four Grammy Awards (plus a Lifetime Achievement Award), a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and several more accolades under their belt, the British musicians have plenty of laurels to sing their own praises.
Often considered one of the most influential bands of all time, The Rolling Stones have deeply inspired iconic musicians such as Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Jack White, and countless others, per Alternative Press. The chart-topping rock group did, however, have a rather unique gig nearly 60 years ago that, up until fairly recently, has been tucked away in the archives. Let's just say this performance could only be enjoyed by families in the UK who had televisions in their homes, according to Snopes.
The Rolling Stones recorded a jingle for Rice Krispies in the '60s
In 1964, before hits such as "Start Me Up," "Beast of Burden," "Sympathy for the Devil," and "Gimme Shelter" graced the airwaves, The Rolling Stones recorded the song "Juke Box." But this 30-second track wasn't heard on the radio nor spun on vinyl. Rather, it was the soundtrack for a Kellogg's Rice Krispies TV commercial. How did these gents land such a fun opportunity in their early days of stardom?
At the time, advertising agency J.W. Thompson's London office owned the account for the beloved cereal. During the Golden Age of Advertising, jingles — short, catchy, compelling tunes composed specifically for ads — were a mega-popular strategy implemented to get brand names to stick in consumers' minds, ideally to the point of driving them to make a purchase. The Rolling Stones were recruited by the marketing firm to perform the whimsical bop. Founding member Brian Jones wrote the lyrics and music for the ditty, which incorporates the prominent onomatopoeias from the famous "snap, crackle, pop" slogan, per Mental Floss.
The Stones weren't the only musicians to collaborate with Kellogg's. According to radio station WRKR, Gary Lewis and the Playboys took inspiration from the cereal giant for their 1965 song, "Doin' The Flake."