Brian Jones, the mop-topped hard partying guitarist and co-founder of The Rolling Stones, drowned under mysterious circumstances in 1969. The coroner's report stated it was "death my misadventure." Brian Joens was born and raised in small town Manning, Iowa and is alive and well, travelling the state playing his music, tending his garden and living in Des Moines. Although not as influential and charismatic as the late Stone, he is a much better swimmer.

Over the last 18 years he's toured the Midwest and released 8 cds. His latest, "The Black and White Years," is a short collection of happy little songs. No life changing revelations or soul-baring confessions, Joens is simply having fun with words and songwriting. From his ode to an octogenarian friend ("Tell The Wife Hi") to his bipartisan, low/middle/upper class lambasting of social norms ("Hillbillies"), to his own version of a love song ("Angeline"), the tunes on "The Black and White Years" are sweet but quirky tales of the people and places of Iowa. The Erick Hovey Band (Erick Hovey - guitar, Dan Lodden - bass, and Jeff Foreman - drums) provide solid, inspirational support. Lodden also recorded/mixed the project.