June 13, 1964 - Great Britain, which seemingly hasn’t exported a loser to this country since Cornwallis, shipped five long-haired native sons into Omaha today to the shrill accompaniment of feminine shrieks and screams.
London’s Rolling Stones, who played tonight at the City Auditorium Music Hall, arrived at Eppley Airfield this afternoon and waded stoically through squeals of welcome emanating from some 200 youthful greeters.
Their unshorn locks seemed in dire need of a comb and there was not a tie to be seen as they clumped with stony-eyed nonchalance down the ramp of a Braniff plane that had carried them from Minneapolis.
Then, surrounded by a cordon of Omaha police, the scraggly-haired performers strode past the clamoring throng, many of whom obviously bore Beatle allegiance.
One Beatle-backing brigade led by 14-year-old Jane Tritten carried a banner reading: “U.S. Beatle Fans Would Rather Fight Than Switch.”
But there were Stone supporters too, who from time to time stormed the police barricade to rub a hand in unkempt hair or to touch a cheek.
One junior miss darted forward to run a finger down one Stone’s arm then retreated in ecstasy. “I touched him! I touched him!” she cried.
Exclaimed a companion, eyes bright, “They’re wonderful.”
Others were less enthusiastic. Said one girl: “They’re so ugly, they’re cute.”
Added another, referring to the doubtful status of a proposed Beatle visit to Omaha: “Well, we might as well settle for something from England.”
The Stones, during a hurried press conference, confided:
— They’ve been together for 18 months but did not steal any long-hair ideas from the Beatles. Said lead singer Mick Jagger: “Each of us has been wearing his hair long for at least five years.”
— They resent implications that they are mere musical carbon copies of the Beatles. Said young Jagger: “We don’t in any way sound like them.”
— They did not expect to equal or surpass the American reception given the Beatles. Said Bill Wyman, bass guitarist: “We know we’re not established stars here. We came to promote our records.”
Those records include a single called “Not Fade Away” and an album containing such classics as “I’m a King Bee,” “Can I Get a Witness” and “Walking the Dog.”
There will be more. Wyman pointed out the Stones, a few days ago, cut 14 to 15 songs in Chicago — “some of the best stuff we’ve ever done.”
Others in the group: Brian Jones, Charlie Watts, and Keith Richard. Also with the group in Omaha: co-manager Andrew Oldham.
The Stones return to England June 21 — but they’ll be back, “before the end of the year,” said Jagger.
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