The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones, formed in London, England circa 1962, are one of the world's most popular rock music groups, selling over 68 million RIAA certified albums in the US alone. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and have performed in approximately 40 countries. The group was formed by Brian Jones, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards met as schoolmates in Dartford, Kent. They took their name from a Muddy Waters song called "Rollin' Stone Blues", and made their live debut in July 1962 at London's Marquee Club (minus Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts). They start playing pubs and clubs around the city and suburbs. Bill Wyman joined later that year (the popular story is that he was asked because he had his own amplifier), replacing Dick Taylor, who started the Pretty Things.
In January 1963, Charlie Watts joined the Stones. The band gigged constantly, with residencies at venues like Ealing Jazz Club, Ken Colyer's Studio 51, and Eel Pie Island in Twickenham. Their weekly peformances at the Crawdaddy at Richmond's Station Hotel resulted in ecstatic press reviews, and in April press agent Andrew Loog Oldham saw them there and signed them to his management company the next day. He started the "Would you let your daughter marry a Rolling Stone" press campaign, which set the tone for their career, which has included drug arrests, and many notorious incidents.
In May 1963, the Stones were signed to Decca Records, supposedly by the same man who had turned down the Beatles. A month later "Come On", the first Rolling Stones single, was released, and reached number two in the U.K. charts.
The fifth and some say founding member of the group, Brian Jones, left officially on 8th June 1969, issuing a statement saying that he wanted to form a new group, possibly with Steve Marriott. On 3rd July 1969, around midnight Jones was found at the bottom of his swimming pool at his home in Sussex, England. The coroner reported "Death by misadventure", noting his liver and heart were heavily enlarged by drug and alcohol abuse. Some said it was suicide, others attributed foul play, even blaming Jagger and Richards for Jones state of mental depression.
He was replaced by Mick Taylor, formerly in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Another former bandmember to mention would have to be Ian Stewart (b. July 18, 1938 - d. December 12, 1985), who officially was in Brian Jones new group prior to even Mick or Keith, but according to legend was squeezed out of the band at Andrew Loog Oldham's suggestion in the early 1960's. Stu was considered by many as the 6th member, and still regularly played piano onstage with the group for many years, steadily at every gig on every tour until 1971, and on & off through 1982 when he was also employed as "road manager".
In 1971 the Stones, whose contract with Decca had expired, launched their Rolling Stones Records label originally distributed through Atlantic, an arrangement which lasted a decade.
In December 1974 Taylor left the group in order to pursue a solo career. He was replaced in 1975 by Faces guitarist Ronnie Wood.
The Stones became one of the world's most popular touring groups, routinely playing huge sports arenas and stadiums, pioneering mobile recording, corporate sponsorships, and setting records for ticket prices.
Bill Wyman left the fold, and was replaced shortly before the group began the Voodoo Lounge stadium tour in 1993. Current bassist Darryl Jones, born in 1961 only a year before the group started, is not an "official" band member, but has played bass in the band for more than 15 years.
All the "official" members have also undertaken solo projects of various kinds. There are many more sources of material, including numerous books on the Stones rather than this short wiki.
The Rolling Stones Links...
Official website
MySpace page
NME page
The Rolling Stones Fan Club website
Wikipedia page
Bass guitar played by Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman joined R&B band The Rolling Stones on bass guitar in 1962 as a replacement for Dick Taylor. He had previously been touring his own invention – the fretless bass - with his band The Cliftons on the London circuit. Wyman sailed through The Rolling Stones audition, impressing the group with his ability on bass and vocals. His ‘walking bass’ style of playing coupled with Charlie Watts’ drumming provided the distinctive pulsating sound behind many of their hits.
Rock and Roll Circus Gibson Les Paul guitar
In December 1968 The Rolling Stones organised two filmed concerts on a circus stage and invited a number of key artists such as The Who and a supergroup consisting of John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Mitch Mitchell from The Jimi Hendrix Experience. It was the last public appearance by the original line-up of The Stones. Despite striking a deal to air the concerts on the BBC, The Stones pulled them at the last minute and it was 28 years before they were finally televised. This guitar, customised with a multi-coloured flame by Richards, was played by him at the concerts.
Gimme Shelter film poster starring The Rolling Stones
Gimme Shelter was a 1970 documentary film recording The Rolling Stones’ 1969 US tour, which led to the infamous Altamont Free Concert on 6th December 1969. Towards the end of their performance crowd-member Meredith Hunter was murdered by a group of Hells Angels when he pulled out a gun and a fight started in the crowd in front of the band. The film took its title from the first track on their 1969 album Let It Bleed – a song which Jagger described as ‘a kind of end-of-the-world’, apocalyptic track.
Jumpsuit designed by Ossie Clark and worn by Mick Jagger
Ossie Clark rose to prominence as a fashion designer during the swinging 60s and early 70s. He dressed many icons including Mick Jagger, Twiggy and Liz Taylor, often using sensuous fabrics, figure-hugging designs and plunging necklines. Clark became friends with Jagger in the late 1960s, creating a series of jumpsuits for his performances. This white lace-up jumpsuit with rivet and tassel detail was worn by Jagger on the band’s 1972 American tour.
Pony-skin trousers and yellow shirt worn by Keith Richards
Stones guitarist Keith Richards has been the face of rock ‘n’ roll since the 1960s and has continued to push the boundaries of rock fashion. Despite a modest view on his fashion status – he explains “fashion thinks more about me than what I think about it. I just wore what I wore and people noticed” – his eclectic wardrobe has brought forth the drain-pipe trouser and the ‘Jack Sparrow’ pirate look complete with kohl-rimmed eyes, strewn hair and skull rings.
Artwork for The Rolling Stones’ ‘lips’ logo, designed by John Pasche
Whilst Mick Jagger envisioned the Indian Goddess Kali as inspiration for the band’s new logo, graphic artist John Pasche saw Mick’s mouth and lips. The logo, one of the first examples of a band using branding, was first reproduced on the inner sleeve of their 1971 album Sticky Fingers. Almost 40 years later it is arguably the most recognisable image in rock music. Pasche recalls how it was fit for purpose: “It symbolised freedom, rebellion and, of course, there is a sexual connotation.”
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