The Rolling Stones and the Blues

The Rolling Stones are often considered one of the greatest rock bands of all time. They’ve been influential in the development of the blues rock genre, and their music has been hugely popular for decades. In this blog post, we take a look at the band’s relationship with the blues, and how they’ve helped to keep this important musical tradition alive.

The Birth of the Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band that formed in London in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums), and Ian Stewart (piano). Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued to work with the band as a contracted musician until his death in 1985. The band’s primary songwriters, Jagger and Richards, assumed leadership after Andrew Loog Oldham became the band’s manager. Jones left the band less than a month before his death in 1969, having already been replaced by Mick Taylor, who remained until 1974. After Taylor left the band, Ronnie Wood took his place in 1975 and has been on guitar in tandem with Richards ever since.

The early days

The Rolling Stones were formed in London, England in 1962. The original line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums), and Ian Stewart (piano). The band’s name came from a Muddy Waters song, “Rollin’ Stone”.

The early Rolling Stones were heavily influenced by the blues music they heard on the radio and in clubs around London. They began playing their own brand of blues-influenced rock & roll, which quickly gained them a following among London’s teenage population. In 1963, they released their debut album, “The Rolling Stones”. It was an instant success, reaching the top of the British charts.

Over the next few years, the Stones became one of the biggest rock & roll bands in the world. They toured extensively and released a string of successful albums, including “Out of Our Heads” (1965), “Aftermath” (1966), “Beggars Banquet” (1968), and “Let it Bleed” (1969). In 1969, they staged a free concert at Altamont Speedway in California, which ended in violence when Hells Angels members hired as security guards killed four people. Despite this tragedy, the Stones continued to be hugely successful and remained one of the most popular rock bands in the world throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

The first album

The Stones’ first album, simply titled The Rolling Stones, was released in the UK on 16 April 1964 on Decca and peaked at No. 3. It reached No. 2 in the US Billboard 200, spending 27 weeks on the chart,[14] and was certified gold by the RIAA in June 1964.[15] Lead single “Come On” peaked at No. 21 in the UK[16] and No. 27 in the US.[17] Second single “I Wanna Be Your Man” finished just outside the UK top ten at No. 12 and reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100;[18][19] it would become more popular with later cover versions by Ringo Starr and The Beatles.[20][21] Paint It Black”/”Long Long While” was released as a double A-side single in late May 1966, becoming their first UK chart-topper[22] and their first US No. 1 hit (both under two minutes).[23][24].

The Rolling Stones and the Blues

The Rolling Stones are a British rock band formed in London in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums), and Ian Stewart (piano).

The influence of the blues

The Rolling Stones are one of the most successful and influential rock bands of all time. They have been described as “the world’s greatest rock and roll band” and are widely considered to be one of the foremost exponents of the blues-rock genre. The Stones’ sound is characterised by their use of electric guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and harmonica, as well as their distinctive vocal style.

The Rolling Stones’ interest in the blues began when they were young teenagers in London in the early 1960s. At that time, the British pop scene was dominated by bands such as The Beatles and The Kinks, who were heavily influenced by American rock and roll and R&B artists such as Chuck Berry and Little Richard. The Stones were drawn to the rawer, more authenticity sound of the blues. They started visiting local record shops to buy imported records by artists such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Jimmy Reed. They also began playing cover versions of these songs at live gigs.

As the band’s popularity increased, they began working with some of the biggest names in the blues scene, including Willie Dixon, Sunnyland Slim and James Cotton. The Stones also began recording their own original songs with a distinctly bluesy feel, such as “The Last Time” (1965), “Paint It Black” (1966) and “Honky Tonk Women” (1969).

In recent years, the Rolling Stones have continued to perform and record new music with a strong blues influence. In 2016, they released their album Blue & Lonesome, which featured covers of classic blues songs by artists such as Little Walter and Howlin’ Wolf.

The blues today

The blues has been a huge influence on popular music since the early 20th century, and its impact is still being felt today. Though it began as the music of African Americans in the South, it has been adopted by artists of all races and cultures, and its popularity has only grown in recent decades.

The Rolling Stones are one of the most well-known and successful rock bands of all time, and they have been heavily influenced by the blues throughout their career. In fact, they are often credited with helping to revive interest in the genre in the 1960s. The band’s frontman, Mick Jagger, is a longtime fan of the blues, and he has even collaborated with some of the genre’s biggest names, including Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton.

The Rolling Stones are not the only modern band to keep the blues alive; there are countless other artists who have been influenced by this genre. The blues is still relevant today because it speaks to the human experience in a way that is both universal and timeless. Whether you’re feeling happy or sad, angry or frustrated, there’s a blues song that can perfectly capture your mood.

The Rolling Stones and Their Music

The Rolling Stones are a British rock band that formed in London in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Ian Stewart (piano), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass) and Charlie Watts (drums). Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued to work with the band as a contracted musician until his death in 1985. Jones died less than a month after recording finished for their debut album, Sukie Smith (saxophone) replaced him as a touring member until 1974 and Mick Taylor took his place in the studio recordings from 1969 to 1974. Following Wyman’s departure in 1993, Darryl Jones (bass) has been the main touring bassist.

The early years

The Rolling Stones were formed in London in 1962 and they quickly established themselves as one of the most influential bands of their generation. The band’s early sound was heavily influenced by the blues, and they became renowned for their energetic live performances.

The Rolling Stones released their debut album, “The Rolling Stones,” in 1964, and it reached number one on the UK charts. The album included the hit single “Tell Me (You’re Coming Back),” which reached number three on the UK singles chart.

The band’s second album, “The Rolling Stones No. 2,” was released in 1965 and it also reached number one on the UK charts. The album featured the hit singles “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” and “The Last Time.” “Satisfaction” became an international smash hit and it remains one of the Rolling Stones’ best-known songs.

The Rolling Stones continued to release successful albums throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including “Let it Bleed” (1969), “Exile on Main Street” (1972), and “Some Girls” (1978). The band’s music has frequently been praised for its timeless quality, and the Rolling Stones remain one of the most popular rock bands in the world.

The later years

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Ian Stewart (piano), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass) and Charlie Watts (drums). Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued as a touring member until his death in 1985. Jones died less than a month after recording started on their first album and was replaced by Mick Taylor, who remained until 1974. After Taylor left the band, Ronnie Wood took his place in 1975 and has been on guitar ever since. The Stones have released 30 studio albums, 23 live albums and numerous compilations.

The Rolling Stones were at the forefront of the British Invasion of bands that became popular in the United States in 1964. Their early material was influenced by blues artists such as Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry, as well as American artists such as Link Wray and Bo Diddley. They also incorporated elements of R&B, country and pop. They later experimented with several musical styles, including psychedelic rock, disco and punk rock. Record sales had declined sharply by 1977, but they made a big comeback with Some Girls (1978), which included the hit singles “Miss You” and “Beast of Burden”. In the 1980s they re-established themselves as a hugely successful act with records such as Tattoo You (1981) and Undercover (1983). Since then they have continued to release commercially successful albums including Bridges to Babylon (1997) and A Bigger Bang (2005). In 1989 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; in 2004 their song “Satisfaction” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

The present day

In the present day, the Rolling Stones are still touring and making music. They are considered to be one of the most successful rock bands of all time, with multiple Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Rolling Stones have also been credited with influencing the way that rock music is written and performed.