Happy 87th Birthday to Ian Stewart (1938–1985): The Second Rolling Stone, the Heartbeat of the Band, and the Only Musician to Guest on Two Led Zeppelin Albums
Today marks what would have been the 87th birthday of Ian “Stu” Stewart, a founding member of The Rolling Stones and a quiet but pivotal figure in rock history. Often remembered as “the sixth Stone,” Stu was actually the second person to join the band chronologically, right after Brian Jones. Though he was later removed from the official lineup by manager Andrew Loog Oldham for not fitting the image, Stu remained the band’s loyal road manager, pianist, and moral compass until his passing in 1985. This year, we celebrate not only his profound influence on The Stones but also a fascinating crossover: his unique collaboration with Led Zeppelin.
Few fans realize that Stu holds a special place in Led Zeppelin lore as the only guest musician to appear on two of their studio albums. First, he played boogie-woogie piano on the electrifying “Rock and Roll” from Led Zeppelin IV (1971), a track recorded at Headley Grange using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio—with Stu also serving as assistant engineer. Then, on Physical Graffiti (1975), the band revisited unused material from the IV sessions and released “Boogie with Stu,” a loose jam dedicated to him, where he again sat at the piano and was even credited as a co-writer. It’s worth noting how rare guest appearances were in Zeppelin’s tight-knit catalog—only three official ones exist: tabla player Viram Jasani (“Black Mountain Side”), Fairport Convention’s Sandy Denny (duet on “The Battle of Evermore”), and Ian Stewart.
Stu’s musical integrity and bluesy touch left a subtle but lasting imprint on Zeppelin’s sound, and his legacy continues to bridge two of rock’s greatest bands. The attached image—a screen capture from an outtake of the Maysles Brothers’ Gimme Shelter, taken the day after the ill-fated Altamont concert in 1969—shows Stu in a rare reflective moment, now part of the deluxe edition of Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!. Whether behind the keys or the console, Ian Stewart was always where the music mattered most.