From their initial single, a cover of Chuck Berry’s Come On, The Rolling Stones established themselves as rock royalty. Though facing many difficulties along the way, such as drug use and lineup changes, they continued to set standards within rock music.
The Rolling Stones were one of a host of young British bands inspired by American blues and R&B music. The group pioneered its distinctive hard rock sound.
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger is responsible for much of The Rolling Stones’ charismatic lead singer and co-songwriter status, providing them with their signature sound. While early Stones singles and albums were composed mostly by outside parties, beginning with 1968’s iconic “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”, both Jagger and Jones began writing their own material and taking creative control of the group.
Beggars Banquet was their debut album under this new era and marked an important return to serious rock-and-roll for them, while simultaneously marking their foray into blues-inspired compositions that they continued exploring on subsequent albums.
In 1981, The band‘s American Tour resulted in both Still Life and Let’s Spend the Night Together by Hal Ashby; Muddy Waters performed at Chicago’s Checkerboard Lounge as part of this tour, and stadium-sized venues became their debut venue. Tragically, during this tour a young man in attendance was killed at Altamont Speedway by members of Hells Angels motorcycle gang.
Keith Richards
The Stones have become one of the most influential bands in modern music, while also remaining long-running acts. Over their history they have integrated various musical genres like country, R&B, blues and folk into their signature sound.
Keith Richards has managed to remain in the limelight despite his self-destructive lifestyle for five decades, earning the moniker “Human Riff.” His signature look includes wearing clothing from various cultures such as Gypsy clothing.
Shine a Light is a 2006 DVD documentary chronicling The Rolling Stones’ rise to fame and epic tour of Europe in 2007. Included as part of this four-disc set are interviews by band members during performances in Austin, Rio de Janeiro and Saitama Japan as well as performances filmed by Martin Scorsese. Richards appears more relaxed at times – his physique seems smaller with looser shoulders, looser waistband and more frequent anecdotal stories; nevertheless his trademark charm remains.
Brian Jones
Without Brian Jones, it would have been impossible for the Rolling Stones to exist. The multi-instrumentalist was their creative force behind pushing their raunchiness while also accepting and adapting to the unique sounds of American blues musicians who inspired them.
As a guitarist, Jones was exceptionally versatile. He could play everything from sitar (which helped propel their fourth album Aftermath to No.1 in the US) to Appalachian dulcimers on Lady Jane – two examples of which helped to ensure its success as an indie hit.
He was also one of the more daring travelers in the group, overdubbing non-traditional rock instruments such as dulcimer, zither and koto alongside Western R&B guitar in sessions for Beggar’s Banquet album.
Drug abuse, poor health and legal issues eventually took their toll; by the time of his death at Cotchford Farm – home of Winnie-the-Pooh author A. A. Milne in East Sussex on 3 July 1969 – Broomfield could barely recognise him anymore despite only ever briefly meeting the singer while travelling on a train and remembering their charm and charisma as time passed.
Mick Taylor
After playing briefly with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Taylor was invited by the Stones for their Hyde Park concert honoring Brian Jones in July 1969. Quickly becoming an integral member of their music, his fluid guitar style helped add depth and texture to their songs.
He contributed his musical skills to Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!, their live album documenting that concert, as well as two late ’60s albums from that period: Let It Bleed and Exile on Main St. Additionally, his sound would prove essential on their subsequent albums: Sticky Fingers and Some Girls.
Taylor left the Stones following the recording of 1974’s It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll album, feeling marginalized within their ranks and his contributions going unacknowledging. However, he continued working alongside Jagger and Richards on various projects after leaving their group and later joined Jack Bruce’s band before remaining active within music ever since.