Biography
The Rolling Stones formed in London in 1962 when childhood friends Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, who reconnected at a Dartford train station in 1961 carrying blues records, joined forces with multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones. Inspired by Chicago blues artists, they debuted on July 12, 1962, at the Marquee Club as 'the Rollin' Stones,' named after a Muddy Waters track, with initial lineup including Jagger on vocals, Richards and Jones on guitar, Dick Taylor on bass, Ian Stewart on piano, and Mick Avory on drums. Early struggles included squalid living conditions, lineup changes with Bill Wyman joining on bass in December 1962 and Charlie Watts on drums in January 1963, leading to their first public performance as the recognizable quintet plus Stewart at the Flamingo Club.[1][2][3][6]
A residency at the Crawdaddy Club in 1963, promoted by Giorgio Gomelsky, built their following among students and attracted The Beatles, paving the way for manager Andrew Loog Oldham and a Decca Records deal. Their debut single, a Chuck Berry cover 'Come On,' released in June 1963, marked the start of hits, evolving from blues covers to Jagger-Richards originals like '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction.' Their raw, energetic R&B style contrasted the Beatles' pop, embodying the dark side of 1960s counterculture during the British Invasion.[1][3][4][6]
Tragedy struck in 1969 when founder Brian Jones was ousted and drowned shortly after; Mick Taylor replaced him, ushering a golden era with albums like Aftermath. Ron Wood joined in 1975, while Wyman left in 1993, replaced by Darryl Jones. Known for blues-rooted rock, rebellious image, and longevity, they released Hackney Diamonds in 2023, their first original studio album in 18 years, cementing their legacy as rock icons.[1][3][4]
Fun Facts
- Childhood friends Mick Jagger and Keith Richards reconnected in 1961 at a Dartford train station, each carrying blues records by Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters.
- Drummer Mick Avory, later of The Kinks, played their debut gig in 1962 before Charlie Watts joined.
- Brian Jones, the band's founder and blues purist, was fired in 1969 and drowned in his swimming pool weeks later.
- They outpolled The Beatles as Britain's most popular group in 1964 per unscientific surveys.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Muddy Waters - Blues inspiration; band name from his track 'Rollin' Stone' (Chicago blues stylings) [Early 1960s]
- Chuck Berry - R&B and rock 'n' roll influence; covered his songs early on (Debut single 'Come On') [Early 1960s]
- Brian Jones - Bandleader and blues acolyte who recruited Jagger and Richards (Formation and early blues sound) [1962-1969]
- Alexis Korner - Blues Incorporated leader; early performance venue (Ealing Club gigs) [1962]
Key Collaborators
- Mick Jagger - Lead singer and songwriter (All albums, Jagger-Richards songs) [1962-present]
- Keith Richards - Guitarist and songwriter (All albums, Jagger-Richards songs) [1962-present]
- Brian Jones - Multi-instrumentalist and founder (Early albums including Aftermath) [1962-1969]
- Bill Wyman - Bassist (Early albums to 1993) [1962-1993]
- Charlie Watts - Drummer (All albums until 2021) [1963-2021]
- Ian Stewart - Pianist/keyboardist (Early recordings) [1962-1985]
- Mick Taylor - Guitarist (Late 1960s-early 1970s albums) [1969-1974]
- Ron Wood - Guitarist (Albums from 1975 onward) [1975-present]
Artists Influenced
- The Beatles - Visited Crawdaddy shows; part of rival dynamic in British Invasion (N/A) [1963]
- Many rock bands - Set standards for blues-rock and longevity post-1960s (British Invasion followers) [1960s onward]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Aftermath | 1966-04-15 | Album |
| Some Girls | 1978-06-09 | Album |
| Let It Bleed | 1969-12-05 | Album |
| Tattoo You (2009 Re-Mastered) | 1981-08-24 | Album |
| Out Of Our Heads | 1965-07-30 | Album |
| Sticky Fingers (Remastered) | 1971-04-23 | Album |
| Goats Head Soup (Remastered 2009) | 1973-08-31 | Album |
| Beggars Banquet (50th Anniversary Edition) | 1968-12-06 | Album |
| Forty Licks | 2023-07-26 | Album |
| Exile On Main Street (2010 Re-Mastered) | 1972-05-12 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Paint It, Black (Aftermath)
- Start Me Up - Remastered 2009 (Tattoo You (2009 Re-Mastered))
- Gimme Shelter (Let It Bleed)
- (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Mono Version (Out Of Our Heads)
- Beast Of Burden - Remastered 1994 (Some Girls)
- Miss You - Remastered (Some Girls)
- Angie - Remastered 2009 (Goats Head Soup (Remastered 2009))
- Sympathy For The Devil - 50th Anniversary Edition (Beggars Banquet (50th Anniversary Edition))
- Wild Horses - 2009 Mix (Sticky Fingers (Remastered))
- You Can't Always Get What You Want (Let It Bleed)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
The Rolling Stones has been played 4 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 15, 2025 | 15:26 | CASINO BOOGIEfrom EXILE ON MAIN STREET | Blues Eclecticw/ Andrew Grafe | |
| Dec 11, 2025 | 22:06 | Salt of the Earthfrom The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus | Kitchen Sinkw/ Jennifer Brady | |
| Nov 14, 2025 | 19:37 | SHAKE YOUR HIPS | Music of Mass Distractionw/ Black Mold | |
| Oct 6, 2025 | 20:52 | WILD HORSES | Blues and R&Bw/ Gentilly Jr. |