The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in 1962 in London when multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones and pianist Ian Stewart were joined by vocalist Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards. Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early lineup. Stewart, deemed unsuitable as a teen idol, was removed from the official lineup in 1963 but continued to work with the band as road manager and keyboardist until his death in 1985. Jagger and Richards early on formed a songwriting partnership and gradually took over leadership of the band from the increasingly troubled and erratic Jones. At first recording mainly covers of American blues and R&B songs, since 1966's Aftermath, The Rolling Stones new studio releases have had almost exlusively Jagger/Richards songs. Shortly before his death in 1969, the band fired Jones and replaced him with Mick Taylor. Taylor recorded five studio albums with The Rolling Stones before quitting in 1974. Faces guitarist Ronnie Wood replaced Taylor and has since remained with the band. Wyman left the Rolling Stones in 1993; bassist Darryl Jones, who is not an official band member, has worked with the group since 1994. First popular in the UK and Europe, The Rolling Stones came to the US during the early 1960s "British Invasion". The Rolling Stones have released 22 studio albums in the UK (24 in the US), eight concert albums (nine in the US) and numerous compilations; and have sold more than 200 million albums worldwide. Their latest album, A Bigger Bang, was released in 2005. Sticky Fingers (1971) began a string of eight consecutive studio albums that charted at number one in the United States. In 1989 The Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2004 they were ranked number 4 in Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Their image of unkempt and surly youth is one that many musicians still emulate.

Background information
Origin : London, England
Genre(s) : Rock and roll, rhythm and blues, blues, rock
Years active : 1962–present
Label(s) : Decca, Rolling Stones, Virgin, ABKCO, Interscope, Polydor
Website : www.RollingStones.com

Members :
Mick Jagger
Keith Richards
Charlie Watts
Ronnie Wood

Former members :
Brian Jones
Ian Stewart
Dick Taylor
Mick Taylor
Bill Wyman

Line Up :

1962
• Mick Jagger - lead vocals, harmonica, percussion
• Brian Jones - guitars, backing vocals, harmonica, percussion
• Keith Richards - guitars, backing vocals
• Ian Stewart - piano, percussion
with
• Dick Taylor - bass
• Ricky Fenson - bass
• Bill Wyman - bass
• Tony Chapman - drums
• Carlo Little - drums
• Mick Avory – drums

January - April 1963
• Mick Jagger - lead vocals, harmonica, percussion
• Brian Jones - guitars, backing vocals, harmonica, percussion
• Keith Richards - guitars, backing vocals
• Ian Stewart - piano, percussion
• Charlie Watts - drums
• Bill Wyman - bass, backing vocals

May 1963 - May 1969
• Mick Jagger - lead vocals, harmonica, percussion
• Brian Jones - guitars, backing vocals, harmonica, percussion, tamboura, sitar, dulcimer, keyboards, autoharp, brass, woodwinds, theremin, kazoo
• Keith Richards - guitars, vocals, bass, keyboards, percussion
• Charlie Watts - drums, percussion
• Bill Wyman - bass, vocals, percussion, keyboards

May 1969 - December 1974
• Mick Jagger - lead vocals, harmonica, keyboards, percussion, guitar
• Keith Richards - guitars, vocals, bass, keyboards
• Mick Taylor - guitars, bass, synthesizer, percussion, backing vocals
• Charlie Watts - drums, percussion
• Bill Wyman - bass, synthesizer
May 1975 - 1993
• Mick Jagger - lead vocals, harmonica, keyboards, guitar
• Keith Richards - guitars, vocals, bass, keyboards, percussion
• Charlie Watts - drums, percussion
• Ronnie Wood - guitars, backing vocals, bass, drums, percussion
• Bill Wyman - bass, synthesizer

1993 - present
• Mick Jagger - lead vocals, harmonica, percussion, guitar, bass, keyboards
• Keith Richards - guitars, vocals, bass, keyboards
• Charlie Watts - drums, percussion
• Ronnie Wood - guitars, backing vocals, bass
with
• Darryl Jones - bass