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The Rolling Stones, or as they were sometimes billed, The Rollin' Stones, were formed in London, England by original leader Brian Jones in 1962. Jones met singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards while sitting in with Alexis Corner's Blues Inc. at the Ealing Blues Club and told them he was interested in forming a Rhythm & Blues group. They organised a rehearsal and by June 1962 the lineup was Mick Jagger; Vocals/Harmonica. Brian Jones; Guitar/Harmonica. Keith Richards; Guitar. Ian Stewart; Piano. Dick Taylor (later of The Pretty Things); Bass and Tony Chapman; Drums. The bands first formal performance was on 12 July 1962 at the Marquee Club in central London. The songs they played were Kansas City, Baby What's Wrong, Confessin' The Blues, Bright Lights Big City, Dust My Blues, Down The Road Apeice, I'm A Love You, Bad Boy, I Ain't Got You, Hush-Hush, Ride 'em Down, Back In The USA, Kind Of Lonesome, Blues Before Sunrise, Big Boss Man, Don't Stay Out All Night, Tell Me You Love Me and Happy Home. Eventually bassist Dick Taylor left, wanting to play Guitar, and he was replaced by Rock 'n' Roll influenced Bill Wyman in December 1962. Then in January '63 Tony Chapman was replaced by drummer Charlie Watts.
Although no written agreement was involved, Giorgio Gomelsky acted as their first manager and booked them gigs at his Crawdaddy Club, where they reguarly played for eight months. Eventually Andrew Loog Oldham and his partner Eric Easton signed the band to a management deal, and Dick Rowe of Decca Records signed them to a record deal. It was soon suggested by Aldrew Loog Oldham that Ian Stewart be kicked out of the band, as 6 people were too many. Although he was no longer a member of the band, he stilled contributed to their studio recordings and acted as their road manager all the way up to his death in 1985. There first single, Chuck Berry's, 'Come On' backed with Willie Dixon's, 'I Want To Be Loved' was released on 7th of June 1963. Their next single was planned as 'Fortune Teller' and 'Poison Ivy', but was shelved at the last minute for a cover of The Beatles' 'I Wanna Be Your Man'. The B-side was an instrumental, 'Stoned'. It was credited to 'Nanker Phelge', a term the band made meaning that it was written by the whole band. Over two recording sessions (in August and November 1963) the Stones recorded their first EP which was released on the 17th of January 1964, titled 'The Rolling Stones'. The tracks featured were four R&B covers. Their first LP was released the the U.K. on 16th of April 1964 and was once again self-titled. The U.S. version was released on 30th of May 1964 and featured one different song to the U.K. Also, the American version was titled 'England's Newest Hit Makers'. After releasing their first LP they set off for their first tour of UK and Europe on a package with american stars such as Ike and Tina Turner, Bo Diddley, The Ronettes, The Everly Brothers and Little Richard. Although by this stage tha band were still playing R&B covers and still had an R&B influenced sound, they were starting to change from strictly R&B to more of a pop band. 'Five By Five' was the Stones' second EP, released 14th August 1964. The name 'Five By Five' was taken from the idea that it consists of five tracks performed by five musicians. About two months later, their second album was released. It was titled '12 x 5' once again from the idea that it features twelve songs by five musicians. The Rolling Stones' first big hit was their cover of "It's All Over Now" which reached U.K. no. 1 in June 1964. By this stage the band were beginning to tour constantly.
During the first American tour in June 1964, the Stones began recording at Chess Studios in Chicago and RCA Studios in Los Angeles. The Stones' cover of Howlin' Wolf's, 'Little Red Rooster', was released on November 13 1964 and also went to no. 1 in the U.K. but was banned in the U.S. because of it lyrics. Their second U.K. album, titled, 'The Rolling Stones No. 2' was released on 15th of January 1965 and had quite a different track list to 12 x 5. The album reached U.K. no. 1 in 1965. In Febuary 1965 the band released 'The Last Time' which was the first Jagger A-side to go to no. 1. By this stage Jones was no longer the leader of the band - it was Jagger and Richards who were now the leaders, mainly caused by their song writing duo, which nearly all A and B-sides would be written by for the rest of their career. On 6th of June '65, the Stones' first live EP was released. The title, 'Got LIVE If You Want It' was taken from Slim Harpo's 'Got Love If You Want It'. It featured five songs and a sixth one called, 'We Want The Stones' which is credited to 'Nanker Phelge', but is just the crowd chanting the song's title. The EP was only released in the U.K. Their next single, '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' is probably their most well-known song. Once again written by Jagger/Richards, it was released 6th of June 1965 in the U.S.A. and 20 August 1965 in the U.K.
Their next release was LP 'Out Of Our Heads' which was released 30 July 1965 in the the U.S.A. and 24th September 1965 in the U.K. 'Get Off Of My Cloud' and then a U.S. only LP titled December's Children. Their next LP released in 1966 featured all songs written by Jagger/Richards. It also featured an 11 minute track, 'Goin' Home'. 'Big Hits (High Tide & Green Grass)' was their first best-of released on April 2nd in the U.K. and November 4th 1966 in America. It featured their most famous songs for the era, including '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction', 'Get Off Of My Cloud', 'The Last Time', 'It's All Over Now' and 'Little Red Rooster'. Their next LP was a live album titled, 'Got Live If You Want It', which was only released in America, as the U.K. already had the 'Got Live If You Want It' EP. The majority of the LP was recorded on the 1st and 7th of October 1966, although two songs, 'Fortune Teller' and 'I've Been Loving You Too Long' were unreleased studio recordings with added crowd effects. By this stage Jagger, Richards, and Jones had started using illedal drugs, and were reguarly harrassed by authorities. In 1967 Sussex police raided a party at Keith Richards' house and Jagger and Richards were charged with drug offences. 'Between The Buttons' was their 9th LP, released on 20th January 1967 in U.K. and 11th February 1967 in America. Brian Jones plays a large role in this album, playing electric and acoustic guitars, harmonica, recorder, piano, trumpet, trombone, and banjo-ukulele. On 27 June, Jagger and Richards were convicted of drug offences and jailed. Richards' conviction was reduced on appeal, and Jagger's sentence reduced to a conditional discharge. The band's next single, "We Love You", was released as a thank-you for the loyalty shown by their fans during the trials. Their next LP, 'Flowers' was a compilation of previously released singles and LP tracks. It reached 3 in the US during the late summer of 1967.
December 1967 was the release of Their Satanic Majesties Request. It was recorded in difficult circumstances as Jagger, Richards and Jones were in and out of jail. The song, 'In Another Land' was written and performed by Bill Wyman and was released as a single in December '67. Their Satanic Majesties Request was also the first album The Rolling Stones produced on their own. By early 1968 the Stones had a new manager, Allen Klein. Their next single, 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' was released on 24th of May. 'Beggars Banquet', their next album and also the last featuring Jones (except for two tracks on 'Let It Bleed') reached no. 3 in the U.K. and no. 5 in America. The album featured two major singles of the time; 'Sympathy For The Devil' and 'Street Fighting Man' On June 8th 1969, Brian Jones left the band. He was quickly replaced by 20 year old guitarist, Mick Taylor. Less than a month after leaving the band, Brian Jones drowned in the pool of his Cotchford Farm home in Sussex in the early morning of July 3rd 1969. 'Let It Bleed' was released on the 5th of December 1969 with Mick Taylor, although Brian Jones is featured on the two songs, 'Midnight Rambler' and 'You Got The Silver. The Rolling Stones are still together as a group and have toured and released albums ever since.