'The Curious Life and Death of...': Was Rolling Stones's Brian Jones murdered? His death could've been covered up
Brian Jones was a founding member of the iconic rock band, The Rolling Stones. He is also a member of the unofficial "27 Club" — which contains other names such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse — a club of musicians who died at the age of 27. The 27 Club first gained prominence when Jones, Hendrix, Joplin and Morrison all died between 1969 and 1971 at that age.
However, while Jones' death was ruled as "death by misadventure", conflicting statements and conspiracy theories have since led to speculation of whether something else may have happened on the night he died. One of the key suspects in his death was a builder, Frank Thorogood, who had been staying at a guesthouse at Cotchford Farm, Jones' home, during the summer as he carried out renovations for the musician.
Just before his death, Jones had been ousted from The Rolling Stones for his incessant drug use and erratic behavior, making him increasingly unreliable. There were theories that Thorogood may have killed Jones in anger over incomplete payments for the work he has carried out.
A new docuseries from Smithsonian Channel, 'The Curious Life and Death of...' follows the host and medical historian, Dr Lindsey Fitzharris, as she looks at some of the most mysterious deaths in history. The first episode dealt with Lizzie Borden. This week's episode takes a look at Jones' death and the circumstances surrounding the investigation as Fitzharris tries to come up with a verdict that might explain what happened to Jones.
On studying the autopsy, it is revealed that Jones' liver was badly damaged and swollen — up to the size of a newborn baby. It is likely that even if Jones had not died that night in July 1969, he might have had a short-lived life. The enlarged liver hints that Jones potentially had a high tolerance for alcohol, which is baffling given that Jones reportedly just had three beers. However, he was also on many drugs and Fitzharris finds that a combination of antihistamines and alcohol may have led to drowsiness and therefore his drowning in the pool at Cotchford Farm.
Fitzharris also looks at an alternate suspect. Tom Keylock — who was responsible for "minding" Jones. While it was initially said that Keylock was not present at Jones' home during his death, it was later revealed that he may have been. Besides Thorogood, Jones' girlfriend Anna Wohlin and nurse Janet Lawson were also present. Journalist Terry Rawlings, who is featured in the docuseries, had found that Lawson was actually Keylock's mistress. Rawlings had also interviewed Keylock before his death and his statement seemingly suggested that he was, in fact, present during Jones' death.
What is clear, however, is that there was misconduct in police proceedings. Both Wohlin and Lawson had wanted to give their statements the next day since they were both under the influence, but neither of them were allowed to. Keylock had also spoken to Rawlings and said that his brother, Frank Keylock — a senior Scotland Yard CID officer — said that Jones’ death was ordered to have been a cover-up because of mistakes by local police.
'The Curious Life and Death of...' airs on the Smithsonian Channel on Sunday nights at 9/8c.
