Questions
When and where were the Rolling Stones formed?
They formed in London, England in 1962, and have been active for over six decades, making them one of the most enduring bands of the rock era.
How did the band get its name?
Brian Jones reportedly named the band after spotting a Muddy Waters LP on the floor that featured a track called "Rollin’ Stone."
How did Mick Jagger and Keith Richards first meet?
They were childhood classmates in Dartford, Kent, then lost touch and famously reconnected on October 17, 1961 at Dartford railway station, where Jagger was carrying Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters records.
Who was in the original lineup?
The classic lineup was Mick Jagger on vocals, Keith Richards on guitar, Brian Jones on multiple instruments, Bill Wyman on bass, and Charlie Watts on drums. Keyboardist Ian Stewart was pushed out of the official lineup but stayed on as road manager and session player until 1985.
What happened to Brian Jones?
Jones drowned under mysterious circumstances in his swimming pool at Cotchford Farm in East Sussex on July 3, 1969. He had left the band only weeks earlier, reportedly unable to get a US visa because of drug charges.
Who replaced Brian Jones?
John Mayall recommended guitarist Mick Taylor, who played the band’s huge Hyde Park concert (an estimated 250,000 fans) on July 5, 1969, just two days after Jones died. Taylor left at the end of 1974 and was replaced by Ronnie Wood from the Faces.
What was their first US number one?
"(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction" hit number one in the US in 1965. Other early classics include "Paint It Black" (1966), "Jumpin’ Jack Flash" (1968), and "Honky Tonk Women" (1969).
Where did the famous tongue and lips logo come from?
Designer John Pasche created it in 1970 for Rolling Stones Records. Jagger reportedly suggested it echo the stuck-out tongue of the Hindu goddess Kali, and it is often called the most famous logo in the history of popular music.
What went wrong at Altamont?
At the December 1969 finale of their US tour at Altamont Speedway, Hells Angels provided security and a fan named Meredith Hunter was stabbed and beaten to death. The documentary Gimme Shelter (1970) captured the tour and that concert.
How did they get the title "the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World"?
In 1969, stage manager Sam Cutler introduced them that way at Hyde Park and kept repeating the phrase throughout their 1969 US tour, and it stuck.
Is that really a working zipper on the Sticky Fingers cover?
Yes. The 1971 album featured an Andy Warhol design with a functioning zipper on a pair of jeans that revealed underwear when unzipped, and some markets got alternate covers because of the controversy.
What is the connection between the Stones and "Smoke on the Water"?
In 1968 the band built the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio to escape standard studio hours. They lent it to Led Zeppelin, who used it for Led Zeppelin III and IV, and Deep Purple immortalized it in "Smoke on the Water."
Which albums are considered their classics?
Fans often point to Aftermath (1966), their first album entirely of Jagger and Richards originals, along with Beggars Banquet (1968), Let It Bleed (1969), Sticky Fingers (1971), and the double album Exile on Main St. (1972).
How many records have they sold?
An estimated 250 million albums worldwide. They have won four Grammy Awards plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
Are they still making new music?
Yes. Hackney Diamonds, released in October 2023, was their first album of original material in 18 years and became their 14th UK number one album.
