The Rolling Stones are the fabled forerunners of hard rock, a gritty, rhythm-driven genre that was founded in London in 1962. With Mick Jagger on lead vocals, Keith Richards on guitar, Brian Jones on several instruments, Bill Wyman on bass, and Charlie Watts on drums, they became the faces of the counterculture and helped define the British Invasion of the 1960s. Hits like “Paint It Black” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” helped define the time. “Let It Bleed” and “Aftermath” are two albums that demonstrated their transition from blues to rock.
Their albums “Sticky Fingers” and “Exile on Main St.” cemented their status as the best rock and roll band when Jones left and Taylor joined. In the 1970s and 1980s, they had singles like “Miss You” and “Start Me Up,” which demonstrated their tenacity. They kept drawing crowds with stadium tours and new albums like “Steel Wheels” and “Voodoo Lounge” even after changing up their lineup.
The Rolling Stones are without a doubt the rock legends, having sold an estimated 250 million albums and winning three Grammy Awards among other honors. Continually considered among the greatest musicians of all time, they have been inducted into several halls of fame and continue to stand as a testament to timeless musical excellence.