Donald Trump is a self-aggrandizing ass, and that is not a new thing. Indeed, way back in 1989 he was such a jackass that even back then the Rolling Stones wanted nothing to do with Trump.

The Stones were wrapping up their ’89 Steel Wheels tour in Atlantic City. The entire tale can be found at Salon, which documents the showdown.

The final Stones show of the tour was to be at the Boardwalk Hall, and aired on Pay Per View. Similar to the Ms. America pageant, the Stones show was to be sponsored by the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino next door. But even back then the Stones knew that they wanted nothing to do with Trump himself (he’s always been an asshole).

So the Stones cut a deal with Trump. Trump wouldn’t be involved in any promotional way outside of Atlantic City, and wouldn’t be allowed at the show itself!

On the night of the show, one of the Stone’s promoters got word that not only was Trump there for the show, but Trump is in the press room, giving a press conference in the room set up for the Stones.

Trump’s original excuse centered around the people in the room “begged him to go up to the microphones” (does this sound familiar? Trump showing up unwanted and saying that people “begged” for him to basically take over the media?).

Trump was told to stop making a liar out of himself – as if that would bother Trump.

The promoter believed he had “extinguished the fire” and returned to the dressing rooms, only to hear that five minutes later, Trump was back at the microphones in the press room – again. The promoter begged Trump, stating he wasn’t sure if he could “stop this.”

And we’ll let Salon pick up the story from there, as Keith Richards offered his help:

“Keith pulls out his knife and slams it on the table and says, ‘What the hell do I have you for? Do I have to go over there and fire him myself? One of us is leaving the building – either him, or us.’”

“One of two things is going to happen,” Cohl told Trump. “You’re going to leave the building and, at 6:40, The Rolling Stones are going to speak on CBS News, or you’re not going to leave the building and I’m going to go on and do an interview to explain to the world why the pay-per-view was canceled.

If anyone doubts Trump’s mob ties, you’ll have to explain what happened next without mob connections:

Then, while literally telling Donald Trump “You’re fired,” Cohl noticed Trump’s “three shtarkers he’s with, in trench coats, two of them are putting on gloves and the other one is putting on brass knuckles.”

Cohl signaled his head of security, who “got 40 of the crew with tire irons and hockey sticks and screwdrivers,” effectively sending off Trump and his goons.

It was a more innocent time. No one pulled their 9mm or their AR 15s.

Cohl describes it as the night that he fired Donald Trump.

But look at all the lessons learned and how Trump hasn’t changed at all over the years. First, because no one wanted Trump around, they contracted with Trump to keep him away. Second, Trump broke the contract and showed up anyway to promote himself. Third, Trump refusing to honor the first agreement to leave, showing up again to again do self-promotion. Finally, Trump was willing to have others fight for him right up until it became clear he’d lose. Then he slinked away.

Trump in a nutshell.

We knew everything we needed to about Trump back in 1989. Keith Richards, the walking medical miracle, knew enough that Trump had to go, and was willing to do what it took. Now, if we could only find a few Keith Richards in this nation. Not to get the knives out, but to commit to doing what it takes.

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Peace, y’all

Jason

[email protected] and on Twitter @MiciakZoom