<Tr> <Th> Past members </Th> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Brian Jones </Li> <Li> Ian Stewart </Li> <Li> Dick Taylor </Li> <Li> Bill Wyman </Li> <Li> Mick Taylor </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> Brian Jones </Li> <Li> Ian Stewart </Li> <Li> Dick Taylor </Li> <Li> Bill Wyman </Li> <Li> Mick Taylor </Li> </Ul> <P> The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London, England in 1962 . The first stable line - up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Mick Jagger (lead vocals), Keith Richards (guitar, backing vocals), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums), and Ian Stewart (piano). Stewart was removed from the official line - up in 1963 but continued as a touring member until his death in 1985 . Jones left the band less than a month before his death in 1969, having already been replaced by Mick Taylor, who remained until 1974 . After Taylor left the band, Ronnie Wood took his place in 1975 and has been on guitar in tandem with Richards ever since . Following Wyman's departure in 1993, Darryl Jones joined as their touring bassist . Touring keyboardists for the band have been Nicky Hopkins (1967--1982), Ian McLagan (1978--1981), Billy Preston (through the mid-1970s) and Chuck Leavell (1982--present). The band was first led by Brian Jones, but after developing into the band's songwriters, Jagger and Richards assumed leadership when Jones was dealing with personal troubles and legal issues . </P> <P> The Rolling Stones were at the forefront of the British Invasion of bands that became popular in the United States in 1964, and identified with the youthful and rebellious counterculture of the 1960s . Rooted in blues and early rock and roll, the group began a short period of musical experimentation in the mid-1960s that peaked with the psychedelic album Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967). Subsequently, the group returned to its "bluesy" roots with Beggars Banquet (1968) which along with its follow - ups Let It Bleed (1969), Sticky Fingers (1971) and Exile on Main St. (1972) is generally considered to be the band's best work and is seen as their "Golden Age". During this period, they were first introduced on stage as "The Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World". Musicologist Robert Palmer attributed the endurance of the Rolling Stones to their being "rooted in traditional verities, in rhythm - and - blues and soul music", while "more ephemeral pop fashions have come and gone". </P>

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