The story of the greatest rock band of all time begins with a coincidence: On the morning of October 17, 1961, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, then 18 and 17 years old respectively, met at the train station in their hometown of Dartford, in Kent. Both wanted to take the train to London and started talking about blues records that Jagger was carrying with him.
The teenagers began making music with two other friends and in 1962 they met a guitarist named Brian Jones in a club. On July 12, 1962, the band performed for the first time in London under the name The Rollin’ Stones. A few months later, Bill Wyman joined the band as the new bassist, followed in 1963 by drummer Charlie Watts.
In this formation, the Stones celebrated their first successes in the mid-sixties, but there were also heated arguments within the band, and drug and alcohol excesses became more frequent. Brian Jones in particular went overboard, which prompted Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to suggest that he leave. Just weeks after leaving the band, Jones drowned in his home’s swimming pool on July 3, 1969. The exact circumstances of his death are still unclear to this day.
The Stones hired Mick Taylor as guitarist, who was replaced by Ron Wood in 1975. In the 1970s, the musicians became legendary rock stars, with gigantic tours, eccentric performances and the introduction of their distinctive tongue logo.
Keith Richards: “Retiring would be suicide for me”
The Stones repeatedly made headlines not only with their songs but also with their drug excesses, women’s stories and arguments. They haven’t lost their fascination even after 60 years in the music industry. Mick Jagger still dances across the stage like a dervish, they still inspire the crowds.
“Retiring would be suicide for me. Practically hara-kiri. I’m determined to go down in history as a 100-year-old rock guitarist,” Keith Richards told the BBC in 2005. It would still be 20 years until his 100th birthday.
The work of the Rolling Stones is honored in an illustrated book published by Taschen-Verlag, which comprises over 400 pages and brings together countless images by well-known photographers. From the band’s beginnings in the sixties to current recordings from recent years.
“The Rolling Stones”, updated edition, Reuel Golden, hardcover with fold-out pages, 30 x 30 cm, 3.78 kg, 466 pages, new edition, 60 euros, bags.com