Tuesday, August 28, 2007

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English band whose blues, rhythm and blues and rock and roll-infused music became popular during the "British Invasion" in the early 1960s. The band was formed in London in 1962 by original leader Brian Jones, but eventually led by the songwriting partnership of singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards. Pianist Ian Stewart, drummer Charlie Watts and bassist Bill Wyman completed the early primary lineup. Their early image of unkempt and surly youth is one that many musicians still emulate.

Jones died in 1969 shortly after being fired from the band and was replaced by twenty year old Mick Taylor. During the 1969 American tour, tour manager Sam Cutler introduced them as "The Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World". After Taylor quit the Stones in 1974, former Faces guitarist Ron Wood began his continuing tenure. Wyman retired in 1993 being replaced by hired hand Darryl Jones.

The band have released 55 albums of original work and compilations, and have had 37 top-10 singles. They have sold over 200 million albums worldwide. 1971's Sticky Fingers began a string of eight consecutive number one albums in the United States. In 1989 the Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2004 they were ranked #4 in Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Their latest album, A Bigger Bang, was released in 2005 and accompanied by their biggest and highest-grossing tour ever, which lasted into late summer 2007.

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