Rolling Stones became one of the most popular English rock bands. Much of the band’s music is aggressive, rebellious, and sexual. The group became known for the excitement of its live performances.
The Rolling Stones were formed in 1962 and took their name from a song by the American blues singer Muddy Waters. The original members of the group were lead singer Mick Jagger (1943-…), guitarists Keith Richards (1943-…) and Brian Jones (1942-1969), bassist Bill Wyman (1936-…), and drummer Charlie Watts (1941-2021). Jones left the band in 1969, shortly before his death. He was replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor, who quit the group in 1974. Ron Wood has been the Stones’s second guitarist since then.
The Rolling Stones were formed to play the music of earlier blues and rock artists. But Jagger and Richards soon began writing most of the band’s material. Their hit songs include “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (1965), “Get Off of My Cloud” (1965), “As Tears Go By” (1965), “19th Nervous Breakdown” (1966), “Paint It Black” (1966), “Ruby Tuesday” (1967), “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” (1968), “Honky Tonk Women” (1969), “Brown Sugar” (1971), “Tumbling Dice” (1972), “Angie” (1973), “Miss You” (1978), “Emotional Rescue” (1980), “Start Me Up” (1981), and “Mixed Emotions” (1989).
In the 1980’s, the individual members of the Rolling Stones began working on solo projects, but continued to enjoy success with the band. The Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. Wyman retired in 1993, and no permanent replacement was named. The Rolling Stones appeared in several filmed versions of their concerts. Jagger also appeared in several movies, including Ned Kelly (1970), Performance (1970), and Freejack (1992). Jagger, Richards, and Watts discussed the group’s music and history in the book According to the Rolling Stones (2003). Richards wrote the bestselling memoir Life (2010). Watts died on Aug. 24, 2021. The American drummer Steve Jordan replaced Watts for the group’s United States tour in the fall of 2021. In 2023, the Rolling Stones released Hackney Diamonds, the band’s first album of new music in 18 years.
See also Rock music (The Rolling Stones).
