Brian Jones, the founding member and original guitarist of the British rock band the Rolling Stones, died on July 3, 1969, at the age of 27. His death was ruled as an accidental drowning in the swimming pool of his home, Cotchford Farm, in East Sussex, England.
On the night of his death, Jones had been taking a combination of drugs, including barbiturates, alcohol, and methamphetamine. He had a history of substance abuse and had recently been dismissed from the Rolling Stones due to his erratic behavior and deteriorating musical contributions.
Jones spent the evening with his girlfriend, Anna Wohlin, and another friend, Frank Thorogood, who was a builder working at his property. The three of them had been drinking and taking drugs throughout the day. By the evening, Jones was heavily intoxicated and behaving erratically.
As the night progressed, Jones decided to take a late-night swim in his pool. Wohlin and Thorogood were present and both gave conflicting accounts of the events. According to Wohlin, she went to bed, leaving Jones and Thorogood at the pool. However, Thorogood claimed that Wohlin remained by the pool.
In the early morning hours, Jones was found motionless at the bottom of the pool by Thorogood. He was promptly pulled out, but it was too late to save him. The official cause of death was stated as drowning, with the drug and alcohol intoxication being contributory factors.
Jones’s death sparked controversy and numerous conspiracy theories due to the conflicting accounts and unanswered questions surrounding the circumstances of his demise. However, no concrete evidence has emerged to suggest foul play. Instead, his untimely death serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers associated with drug and alcohol abuse.
