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The Rolling Stones, formed in London in 1962, are one of the most enduring and influential bands in rock history. Over the decades, they have released more than thirty albums, including studio, live, and compilations. Their music has topped charts worldwide, featuring a blend of rock, blues, and rhythm and blues. The band’s significant chart success includes numerous hit singles and critically acclaimed albums such as Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile on Main St.. The Rolling Stones have also been recognized with multiple awards, including Grammy Awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger, the band’s charismatic lead vocalist and one of its founding members, has been a driving force behind The Rolling Stones since 1962.
Sir Michael Philip Jagger was born on July 26, 1943. Alongside guitarist Keith Richards, he has co-written many of the band’s most famous songs, forming one of the most enduring and successful partnerships in rock history. Jagger’s career spans over sixty years, during which he has become one of the most iconic and influential figures in rock music, celebrated for his distinctive voice and dynamic stage presence.
Raised in Dartford, Jagger attended the London School of Economics but left to focus on his music career with the Rolling Stones. In the late 1960s, he acted in the films “Performance” and “Ned Kelly,” receiving mixed reviews. During the 1980s, he launched a solo career, releasing four albums and the hit duet “Dancing in the Street” with David Bowie, which topped the UK and Australian charts.
In the 2000s, Jagger co-founded Jagged Films, producing movies such as the 2001 drama “Enigma.” He was also a member of the supergroup SuperHeavy from 2009 to 2011. Despite some conflicts with Richards in the 1980s, Jagger has consistently found more success with the Rolling Stones than in his solo projects. He was married to Bianca Pérez-Mora Macias from 1971 to 1978 and has eight children with five different women.
Jagger was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004 with the Rolling Stones. He has achieved considerable chart success, with 13 singles reaching No. 1 in the UK and US. Knighted in 2003 for his contributions to music, Jagger has also had species named after him, highlighting his cultural significance. He is credited with revolutionizing pop music and infusing rock and roll with a style and sex appeal that have influenced generations of artists.
Keith Richards
Keith Richards, guitarist and co-founder, has been with The Rolling Stones since their inception. His guitar riffs and songwriting skills, particularly in partnership with Mick Jagger, have been central to the band’s sound.
Keith Richards was born on December 18, 1943. Richards’ career, spanning over six decades, has been marked by his distinctive guitar style, which has become a signature of the Rolling Stones’ sound. He has often made headlines for his romantic escapades and drug use, contributing to his image as a countercultural icon. Initially known professionally as Keith Richard, he reverted to his full surname in the early 1970s.
Born and raised in Dartford, Kent, Richards attended Dartford Technical School and Sidcup Art College. After graduation, he befriended Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Ian Stewart, and Brian Jones, eventually joining the Rolling Stones. Besides playing guitar, Richards occasionally sings lead on Rolling Stones tracks, including songs like “Happy,” “Before They Make Me Run,” and “Connection,” and typically performs at least one lead vocal per concert. Outside of the Rolling Stones, Richards has led his own band, The X-Pensive Winos, and appeared as Captain Teague, Jack Sparrow’s father, in two Pirates of the Caribbean films—a character inspired by Richards himself.
Richards was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004 with the Rolling Stones.
Charlie Watts
Charlie Watts joined The Rolling Stones as their drummer in 1963 and was a key element of their sound until his death in 2021. His jazz-influenced drumming style provided the backbone for many of the band’s most famous tracks. Watts also released jazz albums under his name and was known for his quiet, steady demeanor, which balanced the more flamboyant personalities of his bandmates.
Ronnie Wood
Ronnie Wood joined the band in 1975 as a guitarist and has remained with them ever since. Before joining The Rolling Stones, Wood was part of The Faces and The Jeff Beck Group. He has contributed to several Stones albums starting with Black and Blue (1976) and has also pursued his own solo projects and is an accomplished painter. Wood’s integration into the band brought a new layer to their music, complementing Richards’ guitar work.
Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman served as the bass guitarist for The Rolling Stones from their formation until 1993. Known for his solid and inventive bass lines, Wyman was instrumental in the development of songs like “Paint It Black” and “Sympathy for the Devil.” After leaving the band, Wyman continued to make music with his group Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings and published several books about his time with the band.
Brian Jones
Brian Jones was a founding member of The Rolling Stones and contributed to the band’s early sound with his multi-instrumental skills until his departure in 1969, shortly before his death. Jones’ ability to play a variety of instruments, such as the sitar on “Paint It Black” and the marimba on “Under My Thumb,” helped to establish the band’s early sound. His innovative techniques influenced the band’s experimental approach to music during the mid-1960s.
Mick Taylor
Mick Taylor joined The Rolling Stones in 1969 as a guitarist and played with them until 1974. His virtuosic guitar skills are featured on albums such as Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St.. Taylor’s bluesy style contributed significantly to the band’s sound during his tenure, particularly noted for his slide guitar work. After leaving the band, he pursued a solo career and has collaborated with other artists in various genres.
Read More: Complete List Of The Rolling Stones Albums And Discography
THE EARLY DAYS
Ian Stewart
Ian Stewart was a founding member of The Rolling Stones, playing with the band from 1962 until 1963. Although he was removed from the official lineup due to management decisions, Stewart remained deeply involved as a touring/session musician and road manager until his death in 1985. He played piano, organ, and percussion on almost every Rolling Stones album from The Rolling Stones / England’s Newest Hit Makers (1964) to Dirty Work (1986), with the exception of Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967), Beggars Banquet (1968), and Some Girls (1978). His contributions can also be heard on the 2011 bonus tracks of Some Girls, Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (2017), On Air (2017), and El Mocambo 1977 (2022).
Dick Taylor
Dick Taylor played bass guitar for The Rolling Stones during their early formation in 1962. A friend of Mick Jagger’s from childhood, Taylor initially played guitar in early lineups before the band fully formed with Brian Jones. He left the band to continue his studies at Sidcup Art College, later becoming a founding member of The Pretty Things.
Mick Avory
Mick Avory, known primarily as the longtime drummer for The Kinks, rehearsed with The Rolling Stones in mid-1962. Avory has stated that he did not perform at any official gigs with the Stones, despite rumors suggesting he played at their debut gig.
Tony Chapman
Tony Chapman is rumored to have played drums with The Rolling Stones at their first official performance on July 12, 1962. He was instrumental in helping to recruit Bill Wyman into the band. Chapman eventually left the band, partly due to doubts over the band’s commitment to blues music.
Colin Golding
Colin Golding played bass guitar with The Rolling Stones for about eight gigs following the departure of Dick Taylor. His tenure with the band was brief, and he left as the group continued to search for a more permanent lineup.
Ricky Fenson
Ricky Fenson also played bass guitar with The Rolling Stones during their early days before Bill Wyman joined the band. Fenson participated in several gigs, contributing to the band’s developing sound during its formative phase.
Carlo Little
Carlo Little played drums for The Rolling Stones for a few gigs in late 1962 and early 1963. His involvement with the band was short-lived as the Stones continued to evolve their lineup in the early years. Little passed away in 2005, remembered for his brief but impactful contribution to the band’s early history.
Touring Musicians and pretty close to being official Rolling Stones. I mean, come on guys, Daryl Jones and Chuck Leavell should be official members of the Rolling Stones.
Chuck Leavell
Chuck Leavell has been with The Rolling Stones as their primary keyboardist since 1982. He has played on almost every release from Undercover (1983) onwards, with exceptions like Bridges to Babylon (1997) and a few live albums and recent releases such as El Mocambo 1977 (2022) and Hackney Diamonds (2023). His keyboard work has been a staple in the band’s evolving sound, contributing significantly to both live performances and studio recordings.
Bernard Fowler
Bernard Fowler has been a backing vocalist and occasional percussionist and keyboardist for The Rolling Stones since 1989. He has appeared on all their releases from Steel Wheels (1989) onward, excluding a few live recordings and the album Blue & Lonesome (2016). Fowler’s vocal support has been pivotal in live performances and studio sessions, enriching the band’s vocal harmony arrangements.
Matt Clifford
Matt Clifford first joined The Rolling Stones in 1989 and has been a consistent presence since 2012. He contributes keyboards, French horn, backing vocals, percussion, and acts as a musical integrator. Clifford played a notable role on albums such as Steel Wheels (1989), A Bigger Bang (2005), and Blue & Lonesome (2016), among others. His versatility adds a rich layer to the band’s music, enhancing their sound with orchestral and electronic elements.
Darryl Jones
Since 1994, Darryl Jones has been the bass guitarist for The Rolling Stones, following Bill Wyman’s departure. Although not an official member, Jones has played on all major releases from Voodoo Lounge (1994) to present, excluding some live albums. His bass playing is critical to the rhythm and groove of the band’s later works, although he is often in the background at live shows.
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Tim Ries
Tim Ries, joining in 1999, handles saxophone and keyboards for The Rolling Stones. His contributions can be heard on live albums like Live Licks (2004) and Shine a Light (2008), bringing a vibrant jazz and blues influence to the band’s live performances.
Karl Denson
Karl Denson joined The Rolling Stones in 2014 as a saxophonist, primarily featured on the live album Sticky Fingers: Live at the Fonda Theater 2015 (2017). Denson brings a fresh dynamic to the band’s saxophone sections, following the legacy of longtime saxophonist Bobby Keys.
Steve Jordan
Steve Jordan was announced as the drummer for The Rolling Stones starting from 2021, succeeding the late Charlie Watts. His first major contribution is on the upcoming release Hackney Diamonds (2023). Jordan is known for his dynamic playing style and has a long history of collaboration with Keith Richards in the X-Pensive Winos.
Chanel Haynes
In 2022, Chanel Haynes joined The Rolling Stones as a backing and co-lead vocalist, featured prominently in performances of “Gimme Shelter.” Although she has not yet appeared on any releases, her powerful vocals have made a significant impact during live performances, adding a new dimension to the band’s iconic sound.
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Complete List Of Rolling Stones Band Membersarticle published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024
