The year was 1979. The place was the Venue, a well-appointed nightclub near London’s Victoria Station. The packed house cheered as the lanky figure of Charlie Watts stood up behind his drum kit. With a towel draped around his wet shoulders, he grinned “This is the best band I’ve ever played with”

This wasn’t an unannounced club date by the Rolling Stones, but a gig put together by Stones founder and mastermind, pianist ...