Biography of The Rolling Stones
The premier British blues-based rock band came out of the London club scene in the early '60s after an apprenticeship with Alexis Korner. With Mick Jagger's vocals, Keith Richards's Chuck Berry-based lead guitar, and Brian Jones's relentless Bo Diddley-based rhythm guitar, the band conquered the world with songs by Jagger and Richards. Jones exited in an early death in 1969, to be replaced by Mick Taylor, who gave them a more professional, polished sound that went well with their lyrical sensibilities. Taylor was replaced by Ron Wood in 1976. Since then, and even before, the band showed an unfortunate reliance on self-parody. ~ Bruce Eder