Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones was born at Park Nursing Home in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire on 28 February 1942. An attack of laryngotracheobronchitis at the age of four left Jones with asthma that lasted for the rest of his life. Brian had two sisters, Pamela, born October 3, 1943, and died October 14, 1945, of leukemia; and Barbara, born August 22, 1946. Jones attended local schools, including Dean Close School from September 1949 to July 1953; and Cheltenham Grammar School for Boys (Pate's Grammar School), which he entered in September 1953 after passing the eleven-plus exam. At school he enjoyed badminton and diving and became the first clarinet in the school orchestra. Jones is said to have achieved seven O-levels in 1957, then continued into sixth grade and achieved two more O-levels. He passed his high school exams in physics and chemistry, but failed in biology. Jones managed to perform well in his exams despite a lack of academic commitment. However, he found the school regimented and disliked school uniforms and conformity in general; his hostility to authority figures led to his suspension from school on two occasions. Jones listened to classical music as a child but preferred blues, particularly Elmore James and Robert Johnson. In 1957, he first heard Cannonball Adderley's music and took an interest in jazz. Jones persuaded his parents to buy him a saxophone, and two years later, his parents gave him his first acoustic guitar as a 17th birthday present. Jones began performing at local blues and jazz clubs while busking and working odd jobs. He reportedly stole small amounts of money from work to pay for cigarettes, for which he was sacked. Jones's first child was born in 1958 to a female friend. The baby, of unknown sex, was given up for adoption and, in contrast to Jones's other children, has either not learned of the relationship to Jones, or has not publicly identified themselves as Jones's child. In the summer of 1959, Jones's girlfriend – a Cheltenham schoolgirl named Valerie Corbett – became pregnant. Although Jones purportedly encouraged her to have an abortion, she carried the child to term, giving birth on 29 May 1960. She soon placed the baby for adoption. The adoptive parents renamed the boy. During this period, Jones lived a bohemian lifestyle abroad, busking with his guitar on the streets for money and living off the charity of others. Eventually, he ran short of money and returned to England. In November 1959, Jones went to the Wooden Bridge Hotel in Guildford to see a band perform. He met a young married woman named Angeline, and the two had a one-night stand that resulted in her pregnancy. Angeline and her husband decided to raise the baby, born on 4 August 1960. Jones never knew about the pregnancy or her birth. In 1961, Jones applied for a scholarship to Cheltenham Art College. He was initially accepted, but the offer was withdrawn two days later after an unidentified acquaintance wrote to the college, calling Jones "an irresponsible drifter". Later that year, on 22 October, Jones's girlfriend Pat Andrews gave birth to his fourth known child, a son. Jones moved in with them and sold his record collection to buy flowers for Andrews and clothes for the newborn. In a television interview, Andrews stated that in the early days of their relationship, although she and Jones were both working, his interest in the guitar meant he did not have much money to buy food or anything beyond paying the rent. According to Andrews, Jones was initially proud of the son, but when the Rolling Stones acquired a manager, Jones was instructed not to be seen with either mother or child. Jones agreed she said, telling her she would have to "put up with it for a few months" until the band had had some success. However, once the Stones did become successful, she noted Jones "just seemed to drift away", becoming more interested in famous people he met. In early 1963, Jones began a relationship with Linda Lawrence. On 23 July 1964, Lawrence gave birth to Jones's fifth child. Later, after his mother's marriage to the Scottish folk/pop singer Donovan, the child was adopted by Donovan and his last name was changed to Leitch, Donovan's last name. In early October 1964, Jones's occasional girlfriend Dawn Molloy announced to Jones and the Rolling Stones' management that she was pregnant by him. She received a cheque for £700 (equivalent to £11,864 in 2023) from group manager Andrew Loog Oldham. In return, she signed an agreement that the matter was now closed and that she would make no statement about Jones or the child to the public or the press. The undated statement was signed by Molloy and witnessed by Mick Jagger. Molloy eventually gave the boy up for adoption. In 1965, Jones met German singer Nico and began a three-month relationship with her. Jones introduced Nico to Andy Warhol and recommended she show him her music; through this she later received her role in The Velvet Underground. She became pregnant during the affair but decided to have an abortion in London that same year. The two remained friends. A year later, while on tour, Jones met Italian-German model and actress Anita Pallenberg backstage and began a significant relationship with her. Jones became extremely abusive, at one point breaking his hand on Pallenberg's face. In 1967, Pallenberg left Jones for his bandmate Keith Richards, which added to tensions between the bandmates. Jones had subsequent relationships with English model Suki Potier and Swedish dancer Anna Wohlin (1946–2019), as well as a short relationship in 1968 with American model Donyale Luna, who appeared with him in the concert film The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus several months before his death. Wohlin was living with Jones in 1969 when he died and has written two books about her time with him. Wohlin has stated that during his last year Jones had expressed immense guilt over not being there for his children. He wished to start over and become a "real father" and raise future children in the house he had bought. He also wished for his sons who had not been raised by adoptive parents to come and live in the house. Jones's youngest known child is a daughter, born in 1969 to Elizabeth, a married American woman who raised the girl with her husband. Jones left Cheltenham and moved to London, where he became friends with fellow musicians Alexis Korner, future Manfred Mann singer Paul Jones, future Cream bassist Jack Bruce, and others who made up the small London rhythm and blues and jazz scene. He became a blues musician, for a brief time calling himself "Elmo Lewis" and playing slide guitar. He also started a group with Paul Jones called the Roosters. In January 1963, after both Joneses left the group, Eric Clapton took over Brian's position as guitarist. Jones placed an advertisement in the 2 May 1962 edition of Jazz News, a Soho club information sheet, inviting musicians to audition for a new R&B group at the Bricklayer's Arms pub; pianist Ian Stewart was the first to respond. Later, singer Mick Jagger also joined this band; Jagger and his childhood friend Keith Richards had met Jones when he and Paul were playing Robert Johnson's "Dust My Broom" with Korner's band at the Ealing Jazz Club. Jagger brought guitarist Richards to rehearsals; Richards then joined the band. Jones's and Stewart's acceptance of Richards and the Chuck Berry songs he wanted to play coincided with the departure of blues purists guitarist Geoff Bradford and singer Brian Knight, who had no tolerance for Chuck Berry. As Richards tells it, Jones came up with the name the "Rollin' Stones" (later with the 'g') while on the phone with a venue owner. "The voice on the other end of the line obviously said, 'What are you called?' Panic! The Best of Muddy Waters album was lying on the floor, and track five, side one was 'Rollin' Stone Blues'". The Rollin' Stones played their first gig on 12 July 1962 at the Marquee Club in London, with a line-up of Jagger, Richards, Jones, Stewart, bass player Dick Taylor (later of the Pretty Things) and drummer Tony Chapman.