Biography

The Rolling Stones formed in London in 1962 and grew into one of the most recognised rock groups in the world. From early rhythm-and-blues covers to original songs that reshaped popular music, the band channelled American blues and R&B through a distinctly British lens and helped define the sound and ambition of the 1960s rock explosion.

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards became the enduring songwriting partnership at the heart of the group’s identity, with Jagger’s charisma as frontman matched by Richards’ feel for guitar riffs and groove. Longtime bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts anchored decades of recordings and tours until their respective departures from regular touring (Wyman stepped back in the early 1990s; Watts died in 2021). Guitarist Ronnie Wood, a full member since the mid-1970s, brought fire and slide texture to the twin-guitar attack.

The band’s run of albums from the mid-1960s through the early 1970s—touchstones of rock songwriting and studio craft—cemented a reputation for combining pop hooks with grit and menace. Singles and deep cuts alike became radio staples across generations, and the Stones proved that rock could stay culturally central long after its first wave.

Live performance remains central to their story: marathon sets, big stages, and a catalogue that balances crowd-pleasing hits with room for grittier, blues-rooted material. Whether you come to the music through their British Invasion era or later stadium tours, the through-line is a devotion to groove, tension, and the emotional lift of a well-played band in full flight.

On New Clear Radio, you’ll hear The Rolling Stones in context alongside indie, Britpop, prog, alternative, and classic rock—curated listening with stream quality up to 320kbps, so the punch of the rhythm section and the detail in the guitars come through the way they should.

At a glance

  • Formed in London in 1962.
  • Core long-term members include Mick Jagger (vocals) and Keith Richards (guitar); Ronnie Wood on guitar from the mid-1970s.
  • Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
  • Known globally for anthems and album deep cuts spanning blues-based rock, rock and roll, and stadium-sized touring.