By Mace Funkhouser

According to legendary folk and rock musician Bob Dylan, and many others, The Rolling Stones are “the greatest rock and roll band of all time, and always will be.”

For the last six decades, the Stones have been a household name, influencing music, fashion, and culture all over the world. Many other musical groups have gained icon status throughout this period, some even more popular than the Stones, but few have been able to maintain relevancy for as long as the Stones, let alone be able to fill the world’s largest venues after 60 years. 

The band was formed in London, England in 1962 by the six original members: Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums), Brian Jones (leader, guitar, harmonica, keyboard), and Ian Stewart (piano). Stewart, a largely forgotten member, was removed from the band in 1963 by their new manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, in order to further the group’s rough, bad-boy, anti-Beatles identity. Despite his removal, Stewart maintained an important role in the band by becoming road manager and playing with the band in the studio for over 20 years until his death in 1985. Other notable members include: Mick Taylor (guitar, 1969-1974), Ronnie Wood (guitar, 1975-present), and Darryl Jones (bass, 1994-present).

The Rolling Stones in 1965. Photo credit: National Archives of Norway.

Jagger and Richards, the two most famous members and the band’s leaders since the late 60s, have known each other since childhood. After encountering each other at a train station in 1961, they renewed their friendship, and Richards joined Jaggers’ small band that became the Blues Boys. In 1962, the Blues Boys sent one of their recordings to another band, Blues Incorporated, and later visited them, which brought them in contact with Stewart, Jones, and Watts. The five members eventually left Blues Incorporated, formed their own band, and added Wyman. 

The band’s name came from an album sitting around when Jones was asked what the band’s name was. He looked around and saw a copy of “Rollin’ Stone” by American blues legend Muddy Waters, one of the band members’ favorite musicians, and created the name The Rolling Stones. Because of their shared love for the blues, much of their early work included covers of blues songs. Some of their early blues and rock covers were successes, with their version of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away” reaching No. 3 on the UK singles chart. The Stones soon made the critical move to writing new songs, helping them both gain and maintain popularity. Richards and Jagger especially benefited from this, as they were more talented songwriters than Jones. Even though Jones was the founder of the band and the most talented musician in the group, his lack of songwriting ability compared to Jagger and Richards was one of the reasons that he slowly lost his role as bandleader. 

After the release of their first album, The Rolling Stones, in 1964, the Stones rushed to stardom and consistently produced hits for the next decade, including “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Let It Bleed,” “Paint It Black,” “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” “Street Fighting Man,” “Sympathy for the Devil,” and others. Throughout this period, Jones’ mental health and drug problems worsened, causing him to exit the band in 1969, before his unfortunate death just a month later.

The Stones continued their enormous success in the 70s, the time many consider to be The Rolling Stones’ peak. During this time, they released one of the greatest live albums of all time, Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! (1970). Additionally, they produced numerous stellar albums: Sticky Fingers (1971), Exile On Main Street (1972), Goats Head Soup (1973), It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll (1974), and Some Girls (1978). By this time, the Stones had started being introduced on stage as “The greatest rock and roll band in the world,” and their never-ending list of hits proved it. 

Image credit: Decca Records.

When I asked Upper School English teacher and Rolling Stones fan Vlastik Svab about the band’s importance during this time, he said, “Exile On Main Street is one of the most influential rock albums of all time; there are still bands today trying to capture that vibe.” Svab agrees that Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! is a masterpiece, and said, “Charlie Watts’ drumming on the Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! version of ‘Sympathy for the Devil‘ is indescribable. Charlie swings so hard, and Mick’s guitar solo is raw power. When I hear Charlie’s high-hat on that track, I’m pretty sure I can see the face of God.”  

Exile On Main Street album cover. Image credit: Rolling Stone Records.

While reflecting on the band’s importance in his life, Upper School history teacher, musician, songwriter, and rock aficionado Brian Justice (’85) said, “The Rolling Stones, as well as other bands from the British Invasion, were some of my first favorite bands. I loved the energy of the Stones’ music, and I loved the way in which they drew on the blues tradition, especially the great Black blues artists of the South. I’ve continued to admire and enjoy their remarkable longevity and continued creativity, and I had the pleasure of seeing them in Charlottesville on October 6, 2005. Even though that was 20 years ago, that felt like a bucket list achievement at that time.”

Until the Beatles disbanded in 1970, their success rivaled the Stones’ and helped them become the legendary band they are. Throughout the 60s, the Beatles were the pinnacle of charm and success. They all had long hair and used drugs in their private lives, but it was not part of their public image. On stage, they initially appeared in matching suits and maintained their well-groomed appearance. The Stones embraced the opposite image and became the bad boys of rock and roll. Their fashion, drug use, and explicitness made them unlike any other band at the time. Although their identity helped them rise to fame, it also had numerous side effects.

For years, their drug use caused problems with the police, the media, and each other. Band members experienced multiple police raids in their homes in 1967, resulting in numerous criminal charges and arrests. Jones was arrested for cannabis possession, and Jagger and Richards were both sentenced to jail time but were released on bond after a day. After public outcry, including a famous article, “Who breaks a butterfly on a wheel?” being published about their unusually harsh sentences for minor offences, Jones was only given a $1000 fine and probation, Richards’ conviction was overturned, and Jagger was given a conditional discharge. In 1977, Canadian police found 22 grams of heroin in Richards’ hotel room, and he faced at least seven years in jail. Richards’ lawyer got his charge reduced to a suspended sentence, but the event caused controversy and delayed shows. 

Drug abuse was detrimental to multiple Stones, particularly Jones. Jones used drugs heavily throughout the ’60s, leading to a decline in his well-being. Jones’ contributions to the band decreased over time, and in 1968, his drug abuse made him unable to obtain a US visa to perform. Jones left the band in 1969 due to a combination of these problems and his worsening relationships with other band members. Jones’ autopsy showed that he was heavily intoxicated when he drowned in his pool, and his liver was around twice the weight of a healthy liver, making it clear that his drug problem played a role in his death. Some people suspect he was murdered or foul play was involved, but his death was classified as death by misadventure.

The Stones have created some of the most iconic songs of all time, which never seem dated. Despite this, history has shown that most bands, including many of the most famous bands of the 20th century, cannot stay and play together for decades, so their passion for their band and music certainly plays an important role in their continued success. The Stones credit their longevity to their undying passion and energy, and it’s easy to believe. Their live performances are always spectacular, and they play with the same intensity that they did 60 years ago. When interviewed about their long career, Richards said, “I think we, basically, we love each other and we love our music,” he said. “And when you’re doing it, you don’t really think about it.” 

The Rolling Stones in 2008. Photo credit: Mario Escherle.

My take on their secret to longevity is the combination of their love for music, their love for each other, and the publicity they embraced when they released their music, quickly cementing them as legends. An added contributor to their popularity was the use of their songs in many famous movies, elevating the status of both the movies and The Stones. Most notably, Martin Scorsese, widely considered one of the greatest movie directors of all time, has used Rolling Stones songs in multiple award-winning films, including Goodfellas, The Departed, and Casino.

In 2023, The Stones released their first new album since 2005, and their 31st album in total, Hackney Diamonds. Despite being their first recorded music since drummer Watts’ death in 2021, the album got generally positive reviews, and their 16 shows in 2024 earned a whopping $235 million. 

When I attended the Rolling Stones Hackney Diamonds tour in Philadelphia on June 11, 2024, I was shocked by their volume, energy, and intensity, especially at their old age. Jones is 63, Wood is 77, and Richards and Jagger are both 81, but they played with the passion of a young band.

I have listened to the Stones’ music since I was a young child, and I have always wanted to see them play live. In June, I traveled to Philadelphia with my dad to watch them perform. Over 60,000 seats were filled in Lincoln Financial Field, and the atmosphere was unlike any other concert I’ve attended. After waiting in our seats for almost an hour, the show finally started. 

They played for almost two hours, and included many of my favorite songs, including “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Paint It Black,” “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” “Sympathy For The Devil,” “Monkey Man,” “Little T&A,” “Honky Tonk Women,” “Midnight Rambler,” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” The live version of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” from their Goats Head Soup 1973 tour is one of my favorite Stones songs, so I was especially excited when they played that song at the concert. Their performance of the song lived up to my expectations, and while it was not nearly as good as the 1973 version, it was remarkably similar. 

One thing I noticed, however, was that there were very few fans around my age at the concert. While I saw many fans in their 50s, 60s, and 70s, I rarely saw fans in their teens and 20s. This is different from other legendary 20th-century bands and their descendants, like the young Grateful Dead fans who attend Dead and Company shows. 

However, it’s undeniable that The Rolling Stones are immensely important to today’s younger generations. Their music is still relevant today, as their songs are still widely listened to, and they influenced the whole rock genre. Shaan Agarwaal (’25), a guitarist in the band Valley Forge, says that, “music wouldn’t be what it is today without the Stones, and I think most kids agree. They might not be quite as important now as they were 50 years ago, but everyone still understands how legendary they are.” As an enthusiastic Stones listener, I couldn’t agree more. Their piercing guitar melodies don’t seem dated at all when I listen to them, and I never get tired of hearing their songs. Although their music isn’t nearly as popular as it once was, especially as new, younger rock and rap artists emerge, it’s indisputable that The Rolling Stones will be remembered as one of the most influential bands ever, even after they stop performing.

Featured image credit: Gorup de Besanez via Wikimedia Commons.