“WE’D built the Rolling Stones Mobile studio in a truck, because we knew they were going to have to leave the country. Keith had rented Villa Nellcôte, which was just a gorgeous mansion on the water, with stairways and a speedboat. I went there to see whether we could record, and went down to the basement, and it was horribly funky and dark. So the plan was to go to the South of France – how great would that be! Everyone was into it. Every evening at 5 or 6 we’d stop for a meal in this gorgeous, long room overlooking the sea, at a table that could seat 15. Keith hardly ever ate. Mick was eating healthy, salads. It was all South of France delicious, and we’d pass around a big wooden bowl with pot and hash. Then they they’d start the evening’s recording.