The Rolling Stones (formed 1962) The Rolling Stones are an English rock band famous for songs such as '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction', 'Paint It Black' and 'Angie'. They are made up of Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts.
Formation: The Rolling Stones formed when old friends Keith Richards and Mick Jagger decided to get together musically, before later meeting Brian Jones playing guitar with Blues Incorporated. The full line-up in 1962 became Jagger, Jones, Richards, pianist Ian Stewart, guitarist Mick Taylor and drummer Tony Chapman. Keith Richards has said that Jones came up with the band name when Jazz News called them up and asked, whereby he spotted a Muddy Waters album nearby with the track 'Rollin' Stone'.
Musical career: The band, as Jagger, Richards, Jones, Stewart and bassist Dick Taylor, played their first gig at the Marquee Club in London in 1962 performing songs from artists such as Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. Bassist Bill Wyman later joined, along with drummer Charlie Watts in 1963 making the line-up: Brian Jones on guita, Ian Stewart on piano, Mick Jagger on vocals, Keith Richards on guitar and vocals, Bill Wyman on bass and Charlie Watts on drums.
Their first official manager was Andrew Loog Oldham who re-dubbed them as the Rolling Stones and dropped Stewart from the line-up. He often promoted the band as a 'nasty version of The Beatles'. The signed with Decca Records who allowed them to use other recording studios and thus they recorded their first album at Regent Sound Studios.
Their first single in 1963 was a cover of Chuck Berry's 'Come On' which they never played live despite it reaching number 21 on the UK singles charts. Their first UK concert tour was supporting Bo Diddley, Little Richard and The Everly Brothers. At the same time, they released second single Lennon and McCartney's 'I Wanna Be Your Man' which reached number 12 and third single Buddy Holly's 'Not Fade Away' reached number 3. Their first number 1 hit in the UK was a cover of Bobby and Shirley Womack's 'It's All Over Now'.
In 1965, they released second album 'The Rolling Stones No. 2' which reached number 1 in the UK and number 5 in the US. Their first original composition to reach number 1 was 'The Last Time' in the same year. Their first international number 1 hit was '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' which spent four weeks at the top of the charts in the US. Their album 'Aftermath' reached number 1 in the UK and number 2 in the US and was the first to be entirely original songs.
In 1967, they were alleged as drug users in the News of the World when they accused Mick Jagger of taking Benzedrine tablets and possessing hashish. It was in fact Brian Jones. Keith Richards' home was later raided by the police after a tip off but no arrests were made until later when he and Jagger were charged with drug offences. Jones house was also later raided and he was charged with cannabis possession. Jagger was sentenced to 3 months in prison for possession of amphetamine but it was reduced to a conditional discharge while Richards' 1 year sentence for allowing cannabis to be smoked on his property was overturned.
Jones was fined £1000 and put on 3years' probation. The thank fans for their support, the band released the single 'We Love You' while awaiting their trials. Manager Andrew left while they recorded album 'Their Satanic Majesties Request' in 1967. In 1968, they recorded the event 'The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus' featuring John Lennon, Yoko Ono, The Who, Jethro Tull and Marianne Faithfull but the footage wasn't released until 1996.
In 1969, after the release of album 'Beggars Banquet', Brian Jones mental state and drug use got out of control and he wasn't able to tour with the band after being refused a US visa. He left the band and later drowned in his own swimming pool. The Rolling Stones proceeded to play a free concert in tribute to Jones in Hyde Park, London with an audience of 250,000. The band performed at the Altamont Free Concert in a concert that would be the subject of a huge disaster. The biker gang Hells Angels were asked to provide security but they stabbed and killed fan Meredith Hunter after seeing he had a knife.
In 1970, they formed record company, Rolling Stones Records and their first album on it was UK and US number one 'Sticky Fingers'. Later, they left England for the South of France. Whilst away recording, Richards was called back to France with a warrant for his arrest. They were subsequently banned from performing in various countries. Frustrated with all the complications, Taylor quit the band in 1974 to be replaced by Ronnie Wood who was a salaried employee until Wyman left. Richards was charged again later for importing drugs into Canada and was given a suspended sentence. The band signed a $28 million deal with CBS Records in the midst of their 20th anniversary in 1982.
Jagger and Richards began to drift apart and as a result Jagger signed a solo record deal. In 1985, he recorded alongside David Bowie the number 1 single 'Dancing in the Street' for Live Aid. Later that year, Stewart died of a heart attack and they were given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award after playing a tribute concert in 1986. In 1989, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Jagger and Richards reconciled.
In 1994 the band released their 20th studio album in Britain and their 22nd In the US entitled Voodoo Lounge. This album is the first one without their long term bassist Bill Wyman as he left the band in 1991. The album debuted at number one in the UK albums chart and won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. In 2009 the album was remastered and re-distributed by Universal Music.
On 24th September 1997 the band released their Bridges to Babylon album which comes as there 21st British studio album. This was the final album for the band in the 90's and sold 1.1 million copies in the US. The Stones then embarked on their Bridges to Babylon Tour in the same year with an immense 108 shows.
In 2005 the Stones released their 22nd studio album on Virgin Records entitled A Bigger Bang. This gap of eight years is the longest the band have gone between recording studio albums. The album made it to number two in the UK album chart and number three on the US Billboard 200.
Their 50th anniversary took place in 2012 and they played five concerts across the world.
Biography by Contactmusic.com
.jpg "https://admin.contactmusic.com/images/home/images/content/sticky-fingers-album-cover%20%281%29.jpg")
