The Rolling Stones

HISTORY

It was on platform 2 of Dartford station on October 17, 1961 that a young Keith Richards spotted a young Mick Jagger with two blues albums under his arm and got talking to him about music.

Rolling Stones at Milwaukee's Marcus Amphitheater June 23 2015.  Jim Pietryga

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards first met musician Brian Jones when he and future Manfred Mann singer Paul Jones were playing Elmore James' "Dust My Broom" with Alexis Korner's band at the Ealing Jazz Club.  Both joined Jones' band, after he'd placed an advertisement in Jazz News on May 2, 1962, inviting musicians to audition for a new R&B group at the Bricklayer's Arms pub.

Jagger and Richards shared an admiration of Muddy Waters and the band was named after the American bluesman's 1950 song "Rollin' Stone."

The Rolling Stones performed their first concert, at the Marquee Club in London, on July 12, 1962.

Bassist Bill Wyman did not become a member until December 7, 1962 and drummer Charlie Watts joined the following January.

When the Rolling Stones played their first gig at London's Crawdaddy Club in February 1963, it was their first public performance with Wyman and Watts in the band.

John Lennon and Paul McCartney completed "I Wanna Be Your Man" as a gift to the Rolling Stones, while the Stones watched them, in the Stones' own recording studio, The Beatles musicians' creative flourish was so impressive that it inspired Jagger and Richards to start composing their own songs. Released as their second single on November 1, 1963, the Stones' version was an early hit, peaking at #12 on the British chart.

Although Brian Jones was originally the leader of the Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards gradually took over the band's musical direction, especially after they became a successful songwriting team. Jones developed a serious drug problem over the years and his role in the band steadily diminished.

At around midnight on the night of July 2-3 1969, Jones was discovered motionless at the bottom of his swimming pool at Cotchford Farm. 

Brian Jones prior to a Rolling Stones performance on May 4, 1965. By Kevin Delaney - 

Brian Jones left the band less than a month prior to his death in 1969, having already been replaced by Mick Taylor, who remained until 1974.

The Rolling Stones performed at a free festival in Hyde Park, London, on July 5, 1969, in front of a massive crowd exceeding a quarter of a million fans. The concert marked the band's first public appearance with Mick Taylor, following the sudden death of founding member Brian Jones just two days prior.f

The Rolling Stones were so impressed with the backup singer's voice in "Gimme Shelter" that you can hear them hooting in the background. They kept it in the studio recording as well.

All eight albums the Rolling Stones released from 1971-1981 went to #1 on the US chart.

Charlie Watts died at a London hospital on August 24, 2021 of an unspecified health issue, at the age of 80.  His last performance with the Stones took place in Florida on August 30, 2019 as part of their No Filter tour. Watts was known for his understated drumming style and his ability to keep the beat while also adding his own unique flair. He was also a fashion icon, and his style was often imitated by other drummers.

CONTROVERSY 

The Rolling Stones band members' long hair was considered outrageous in 1963. They took out a Christmas ad in a newspaper saying "Best wishes to all the starving hairdressers and their families."

The Rolling Stones performing in Georgia, May 1965. By Kevin Delaney 

On July 24, 1964, the Rolling Stones played a gig at the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, England. The concert was a sell-out, and the crowd was excited to see the band. However, the concert quickly turned violent when Keith Richards kicked a man who had been spitting at him. The man fell to the ground, and the crowd began to riot.  The riot lasted for several hours, and 50 fans were taken to the hospital. The Rolling Stones were forced to flee the stage, and they were banned from playing in Blackpool for 44 years.

Police were forced to use tear gas to break up mobs when the Rolling Stones appeared at the Palace of Culture in Warsaw, the British pop group’s first appearance behind the Iron Curtain. Trouble began when 3,000 teenagers gathered outside the venue before the April 14, 1967 gig. Inside, 3,000 boys and girls danced in their seats.

On June 27, 1967 Mick Jagger found himself being driven to court in a blue Continental Bentley on a drugs charge. Three and a half hours later, the Rolling Stones frontman was driven off to Lewes Jail in an austere grey police van. Jagger had been found guilty of unauthorized possession of pep pills and sentenced to three months' imprisonment. On appeal Jagger's sentence was amended to a conditional discharge.

The Rolling Stones were criticized for high ticket prices on their 1969 US tour so they decided to hold a free concert. The festival was organized by the Grateful Dead and took place at the Altamont Speedway on December 7, 1969. It was a disaster, four young men died violently. and it signaled the end of the hippie movement.

Though four people were killed at Altamont, the overall population at the event did not change since four babies were born at the concert as well.

Hells Angels attempted to murder Mick Jagger in 1975. They tried to drive a boat up to the Long Island Mansion he was staying at, however their attempt was thwarted by a storm that capsized the vessel and the Hells Angels ended up having to swim for their lives.

FUN FACTS

The hands of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards are insured for $1.6 million.

Keith Richards, 1972. By Dina Regine

A graphic designer by training, Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts almost always made a quick sketch of every hotel room he stayed in while on tour and had them all stored away.

Charlie Watts was the first Stone in print. Written and illustrated by Charlie while at Art School, his illustrated tribute to Charlie Parker, Ode To A High Flying Bird, was published in 1964. 

Mick Jagger married Texan model Jerry Hall in 1990 on the Indonesian island of Bali. The ceremony was conducted by a Hindu priest who reportedly slit the throat of a chicken and spilt its blood to purify the venue. Nine years later a court ruled that the union was not legal.

The former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman — who quit in 1993 — has patented his own metal detector.

According to Sticky Fingers session musician Jim Dickinson's book I'm Just Dead, I'm Not Gone, regular Stones pianist Ian Stewart didn't play on "Wild Horses" as he didn't "play on songs with minor chords."

Brian Jones, co-founder of The Rolling Stones, was proficient at over 60 musical instruments.

The Rolling Stones' tongue logo design was inspired by the Indian Hindu goddess Kali The Destroyer

Sources Daily Mail, Artistfacts