#about suki

[sukipotier]

"On the other hand, my mother was a more flamboyant character. She was very much part of the London party scene in the late 1960s, a “Bond Girl” and dated Brian Jones from the Rolling Stones. Her jewellery reflected her personality, which was big, bold and daring. She, too, was an avid jewellery collector but with a very different style."

— Sarah Ho on her mother, SCMP

[sukipotier]

"She was very much more ladylike than Anita. I think she was a debutante. She was certainly very well-mannered. There was nothing of the street kid about her, she was simply very pretty and very quiet."

— Mim Scala on Suki

[sukipotier]

When did Brian and Suki actually become a couple? Monterey Pop was June ‘67 and he went there with Christa Päffgen — and they definitely had an affair. Honestly, knowing Brian, I wouldn’t be shocked if he was cheating on Suki right from the very start.

While they definitely knew of each other before his separation from Anita, I couldn't find an answer to when they became a couple. However, the first time they were seen together in public was at Heathrow Airport/Marbella Spain. That was in July 1967. So take that as you will:

As for him with Nico, they did have a romantic relationship, but that was in 1965 lol. Who knows what the hell they did in Monterey Pop, but they are also close friends, which I assume was nothing more than them accompanying each other. It is a sad thought that he might be cheating, but then again there haven't been enough details for us to assume that he was cheating on Suki from the very start.

[sukipotier]

Is it documented that Brian beat Suki — I preferred Suki & Brian as a couple over Anita & Brian because he would hurt her regularly. (not that I like Anita as a person but she still was abused by him). I did not know he also did the same to Suki?!! he makes me sick I’m sorry and #justiceforSuki. Seems like she went through a LOT

In biographical books about Brian, there have been quotes suggesting that he was, in fact, horrible towards her. Even his own friends have said this.

I will provide evidence of the claims. But I will say this before anyone attacks me- I'm not trying to cancel Brian, ffs he's dead he can't be cancelled. I've been a fan of Brian Jones for years; he's the reason I found out about Suki. However, it is not controversial to say he wasn't a good boyfriend to his partners. I've acknowledged that he was struggling with mental problems, which is why he's like the way he is, but it is not an excuse to hurt Suki; her trauma should be acknowledged as well. This is just me trying to show evidence and give information to people who want to learn more about Suki.

With that being said, here are the actual quotes/evidence of him being horrible to her:

1. Sympathy for the Devil: The Birth of the Rolling Stones and the Death of Brian Jones / Brian Jones: The Making of the Rolling Stones by Paul Trynka (they are the same book, but different book titles for some reason, I'm sharing both for people to look up):

“Suki started out as well as anybody can be, very fresh and lovely. But Brian was like a kind of disease, he wilted Suki terribly. That’s the sad aspect of this depression, the absolute despondency he sank into.” - Stash Klossowski De Rola

"I was around from Beggars Banquet, says Sam Cutler, later the band’s tour manager, ‘and Brian was acting like an arsehole of the first order. He loved picking fights with his girlfriends.’ Mim Scala confirms, ‘It was horrible. I used to cringe about what was going on. Suki would hang in there, really cared about him - and he was really awful to her. I remember one night coming out of the Speakeasy, Brian gets in the car and gets the driver to take off - so there’s Brian going “Drive, drive, drive!” and this beautiful girl chasing him down the street. That kind of thing happened a lot, he just didn’t care."

"The pair took their troubles with them wherever they went. On 4 July, Brian ventured back to Tangier, once again staying at the El Minzah, along with Christopher Gibbs. [...] But this trip exhausted Gibb's patience. One night at the hotel, after yet another argument, Suki attempted to slash her wrists with a broken mirror. The longsuffering staff called an ambulance, yet again; then, when it arrived, Brian tried to palm Suki off on Gibbs, to get him to go in the ambulance. ‘He was really trying to pass the buck, as was his wont. I wasn't interested: “No, get in there, mate, this is your baby.”’ Gibbs never warmed to Suki. It wasn’t a universal view, but his assessment of them as a couple has the ring of truth: “They were a disaster area. You know, as you go through life you know the people you can basically rely on. And there are some people who aren’t reliable and they were never going to be, either of them."

"Over the time Suki and Brian were enmeshing themselves in a self-created chaos "

2. Old Gods Almost Dead: The 40-year Odyssey of the Rolling Stones by Stephen Davis (another book that mentions Suki slashing her wrist)

They flew first to Tangier and put up at the Hotel El Minzeh. Christopher Gibbs was also there. “Brian was his usual self, the same old brawl, this time with Suki. She jolly nearly died when I was with them that time at the Minzeh. She had smashed her wrists on a mirror and was bleeding badly. And Brian, instead of calling a doctor or the concierge, rang me. ‘Can you come and sort this out for me? Can you ring the doctor? Can you talk to the management? Can you clean up the blood? Do you know how a tourniquet works?’

3. Blown Away: The Rolling Stones and the Death of the Sixties by A.E. Hotchner

"Brian was excited at the prospect of hearing the native music, especially the Joujoukan pipers, but during the course of their stay, Brian beat up Suki so badly she had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance." - Jim Carter-Fea

4. From Crime Scene to Courtroom By Cyril H. Wecht, Dawna Kaufmann

He had a new girlfriend named Suki Potier, who was very nurturing and loyal. In typical Jones fashion, he mistreated Suki too, once sending her to the hospital after a violent beating.

5. Death of of a Rolling Stone: The Brian Jones Story by Mandy Aftel

One night at a club called The Speakeasy, Brian was having drinks with Suki and a few friends when he noticed an attractive blond at the bar. "Brian and his friends descended upon me," Debby Scott said. Suki started to flip out immediately. Brian started picking at this furry little jacket that I had on. His attitude was, 'Oh yes, who are you? Somebody please introduce us.' I thought he looked like a little court jester or clown. He was small with short little legs. He was wearing something with puffy sleeves and tight red velvet trousers . If he had bells on his toes it would have been perfect. Brian asked me to come over to his house for a party. At first I said 'No,' but he kept asking me to go back and have a few drinks and said, 'Don't worry, my driver will take you home'. So I did eventually end up going back there. Suki was actually very upset and stormed off into the night, but Brian didn't seem to particularly care." [...] Brian and Debby saw each other sporadically over the next year, usually when Suki was out of town.

"Brian used to drain every bit of strength I had. I was the one person he could always rely on. I think I probably loved him more than he did me" - Suki Potier, her own words

I've been making this post for at least a few hours, I wanted to give as much evidence as I can.

I will say, yes Suki has spoken fondly of Brian numerous times, yes both Suki and Brian were important to each other's lives, yes Suki did her best to take care of him. I will never deny that and I have posted so many quotes from her speaking positively about Brian. But to act like she wasn't getting mistreated is painfully wrong and diminishes abused victims. It hurts me to think Suki was getting cheated on and abused.

Once again, I'm not trying to cancel anybody. I'm just simply stating facts and things like these should not be brushed aside. You can be a fan of someone while still acknowledging their wrongdoings.

Suki didn't deserve that. She deserved someone who could treat her right. I really hope she had that love with Robert. I hope she found peace.

[sukipotier]

Suki Potier in the Daily Mirror newspaper one year after the death of Brian Jones. Here she talks about him and moving on from the past. July 4th, 1970

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Happy birthday Suki Potier! You are very much loved and remembered 🫶

Here's quotes by people who knew her:

"Very beautiful but perfectly silly" — Marianne Faithfull

"Suki started out as well as anybody can be, very fresh and lovely.” — Prince Stash De Rola

"She was incredibly sweet, very feminine, very funny, laughed a lot" — Martin Wilkinson

"I'm really proud to have someone like her as a mother, someone who lived a really colourful life" — Sarah Ho, her daughter

[sukipotier]

Is it true that Mick was with/ had an affair with Suki sometime after she and Brian broke up?

I've reviewed numerous books on the Rolling Stones, and I have come across this info, particularly in three books: Heart of Stone by Laura Jackson, Jagger by Carey Schofield, and As Tears Go By: Marianne Faithfull by Mark Hodkinson. However, it was never detailed enough for me to believe it. Her name would be mentioned once like it was "oh Mick had an affair with Suki, but let's not discuss it further, so moving on to the next topic." One thing I noticed is that it's never mentioned in Brian Jones biography books, which makes it hard to believe that they actually did have one.

But here's a thing: Mick is known to be a womanizer; it is not a foreign concept for the band to sleep with each other's women. Mick even tried seducing Brian's ex gf Pat Andrews, hell even with Anita. There's possibly a slight chance that Mick and Suki may have hooked up which probably isn't publicly known.

My answer is I am not 100% sure. But if you want my opinion, I highly doubt it, but also if they did, it was most likely not anything serious.

I just really wish there's a book on Suki that could answer all of our questions lol.

If any Mick or Stones expert wants to jump in to answer this feel free!

[sukipotier]

Fun fact: Did you know Suki Potier was one of the backup vocals for the "woo-woo's" in the Sympathy for the Devil?

According to the book "The Rolling Stones All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track":

Suki was listed as one of the backing vocals for the track.

Though she didn't appear in the famous "woo-woo's" scene in Jean-Luc Godard's film, however that doesn't mean that was the final product. She could have been in other takes, before or after this footage. Nonetheless, she still took part of in one of the most legendary songs of The Rolling Stones ✨