Brian Jones: Sympathy for the Devil

On July 3, 1969, Brian Jones, British blues and rock guitarist, organist, and sitar player (Rolling Stones, 1962-69), drowned in his swimming pool at the age of 27. An excerpt from the article:

"Brian Jones, rhythm guitarist with the Rolling Stones from their inception in 1962 until his departure early last month, is dead. He was 25.

Jones died shortly after being pulled, unconscious, out of the floodlight swimming pool at his home in Hartfield.

Circumstances surrounding the latenight tragedy remain vague, despite testimony by three friends who were near the scene, despite a coroner’s inquest, and despite blatantly sensational coverage by the London press.

Jones and his girl friend, 21-year-old Anna Wohlin, were hosting Frank Thorogood, a builder who had been doing repairs on Jones’ country home, and another friend, Jenny Lawson, a 22-year-old nurse. Shortly after midnight that night (June 2nd) he was found at the bottom of the pool. Artificial respiration attempts, first by Miss Wohlin, who is also a nurse, and later by ambulance attendants, failed, and Brian Jones was dead by the time a doctor arrived.

First reports on the drowning of the musician left the cause of death unsaid. Later, Miss Wohlin was reported to have told a coroner from nearby East Grinstead that an asthma inhaler was found at the edge of the pool. “Brian used it automatically and particularly when he was in the pool and having difficulties in breathing,” she said."