The Rolling Stones

From London, in 1962, a band emerged that would become a pillar of rock: The Rolling Stones. Their sound, from the outset, was characterized by rhythmic energy and a rawness that laid the groundwork for what would later be defined as hard rock. The initial lineup, which solidified over time, included Mick Jagger on vocals, Keith Richards on guitar, Brian Jones contributing his multi-instrumentalist talent, Bill Wyman on bass, and Charlie Watts on drums. Although Ian Stewart was removed from the official lineup by his manager Andrew Loog Oldham, his presence as a session keyboardist and on tours continued until 1985. In those early years, Brian Jones was a central figure, and it was under Oldham's impetus that the band began to explore their own songwriting, giving rise to the prolific creative duo between Jagger and Richards.

In their early days, The Rolling Stones drew from blues and early rock and roll, performing songs by artists like Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry. They were protagonists of the so-called "British Invasion" in 1964, connecting with the youth counterculture of the 60s. Soon, their own creations began to achieve international success. Tracks like "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and "Get Off of My Cloud", both from 1965, and "Paint It Black" from 1966, reached number one on the charts. Their first album entirely of original material, Aftermath (1966), is considered a turning point. They experimented with psychedelic sounds on Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967), but towards the end of the decade, they returned to their rhythm and blues roots with singles like "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (1968) and "Honky Tonk Women" (1969), accompanied by albums like Beggars Banquet (1968), which included "Sympathy for the Devil", and Let It Bleed (1969), with "Gimme Shelter".

Classic rock Rock Blues Blues rock british rhythm & blues 1960s

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Biography

The departure of Brian Jones in 1969, shortly before his death, made way for guitarist Mick Taylor. That same year, they were publicly presented as "the greatest rock and roll band in the world." In 1970, they founded their own label, Rolling Stones Records, and released Sticky Fingers (1971), with hits like "Brown Sugar". Notable works followed, such as Exile on Main St. (1972) and Goats Head Soup (1973), which contained "Angie". After Taylor's departure at the end of 1974, Ron Wood joined the band. Albums like Some Girls (1978) and Tattoo You (1981) maintained their relevance, and Steel Wheels (1989) marked a significant return. Massive tours became a constant, consolidating their power as a live attraction. With the departure of Bill Wyman in 1993, Darryl Jones took over on bass, and after the death of Charlie Watts in 2021, Steve Jordan took his place on drums. In 2023, they released Hackney Diamonds, their first studio album of new material in 18 years, demonstrating a longevity that few artists manage to sustain.