'60s Rock Legend's U.S. Flag Stunt Stirred Crowds 50 Years Ago — Most Fans Don't Remember
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The legendary Rolling Stones found themselves in hot water over 50 years ago — an incident many fans might not remember.
During a stop in Syracuse on their Aftermath North American tour in 1966, the British rockers stirred controversy that had the local press offended.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R14ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R24ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeAccording to CNY History, a Syracuse Post-Standard article at the time described Mick Jagger as “a slim British singer with a style as taut as his trousers.” The piece also noted the crowd of 6,000 was “well-behaved until slung to action by ‘Satisfaction,’” which led one fan to hop the barricade and rush the stage.
But that wasn’t the incident in question. On the second night of their Syracuse stint, one of the band members tried to grab an American flag that had been left drying on a chair — hoping to take it as a “souvenir.”
In doing so, he accidentally dragged the flag across the floor, prompting a venue worker to snatch it back and alert police.
In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, patriotism was a touchy subject — and even rock stars weren’t immune when it came to perceived disrespect toward the flag.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R19ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R29ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeThe St. Joseph Gazette article notes that police concluded the incident was unintentional following their talk with the band member. “Deputy Police Chief Samuel Nappi said police were satisfied the action was accidental. He said the singers had apologized.”
The matter was resolved that night, but it’s just one of many moments in Rolling Stones history that involved trouble with the police.
Just a few years later, Mick Jagger was reportedly arrested for amphetamine possession during a party at Keith Richards’ Sussex home. Though initially sentenced to three months, he ultimately received a conditional discharge.
In recent years, the band has stayed out of controversy — and even hit the road last year for their Hackney Diamonds tour in support of the album.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R1eekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2eekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeThe three-month run spanned the U.S. and Canada, grossing $235 million with about 848,000 tickets sold, according to Billboard Boxscore.
Reflecting on how touring feels now compared to the early days of the Stones, Jagger admitted it was a bit different.
“You were younger and more crazy, more excited. And you were new,” he told The Arizona Republic in May 2024. “You weren't like treated like legends and all this. But you're the same person doing the same thing, even doing some of the same songs, so in some ways, it's the same. But it's a different time in the world, so there's a different vibe. It's the same, but only different, yeah.”
'60s Rock Legend's U.S. Flag Stunt Stirred Crowds 50 Years Ago — Most Fans Don't Remember first appeared on Parade on Jul 7, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
