Timeline: The Rolling Stones

Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff
Rolling Stones

Here are some key moments in the history and evolution of the Rolling Stones.



1940 1950 1962 1970 1975 1980 1990 2000 2011
1936
Oct. 24
Bill Wyman is born in London, England. His birth name is William George Perks.
1941
June 2
Charles Robert "Charlie" Watts is born in Islington, England.
1942
Feb. 28
Brian Jones is born in Cheltenham, England. His birth name is Lewis Brian Hopkins Jones.
1943
July 26
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is born in Dartford, England.
Dec. 18
Keith Richards is born in Dartford, England.
1947
June 1
Ronald David "Ronnie" Wood is born in Hillingdon, England.
1949
Jan. 17
Michael Kevin "Mick" Taylor is born in Welwyn Garden City.
1950
Sept
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards meet. They are classmates at Wentworth Primary School in Dartford, Kent.
1960
1960
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards run into each other at a train station near London. Both are on their way to college. They have not seen each other for several years.
1962
April
Mick Jagger forms a band with guitarist Keith Richards, drummer Tony Chapman, pianist Ian Stewart, bassist Dick Taylor and guitarist Brian Jones.
July 12
The band plays their first gig at the Marquee Club in London. They are billed as The Rollin' Stones.
Dec.
Dick Taylor leaves the band to go to art school. The following year he forms a band called The Pretty Things. Bill Wyman joins The Rollin' Stones as their new bass player.
1963
Jan.
Founding member Tony Chapman leaves to form the band The Preachers with Peter Frampton. Charlie Watts joins The Rollin' Stones as their new drummer.
May
Founding member Ian Stewart is dismissed from the band's line-up. However, Stewart remains the band's road manager and pianist until his death in 1985.
June 7
With a new name, the Rolling Stones, the band releases their first single, a Chuck Berry cover, "Come On." The single will reach #21 on the UK singles chart.
July 13
Due to the success of their first single, the band gets its first gig away from London at a club in Middlesbrough, England. They share the bill with The Hollies.
Autumn
The band opens for Little Richard, Bo Diddley and The Everly Brothers on a full tour of the United Kingdom. They also release their second single, another cover, this one by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, "I Wanna Be Your Man." The single reaches #12 on the UK singles chart.
1964
Feb.
The band releases its third single which reaches #3 on the United Kingdom singles chart. The single is a cover of "Not Fade Away" by Buddy Holly.
April 16
The band's first album, The Rolling Stones, is released in the United Kingdom.
May 30
The band's first album is released in the United States where it climbs to #11 on Billboard's album chart. For this release, the album is retitled The Rolling Stones, Enland's Newest Hitmakers.
June
The Rolling Stones tour the United States for the first time. They also appear on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Hollywood Palace.
Oct. 17
Their second album 12 X 5 is released, but only in the United States.
July
The Rolling Stones score their first number one song in the United Kingdom with "It's All Over Now," a song written by Bobby Womack and Shirley Womack.
Oct. 1
The Rolling Stones begin their second tour of the United States by performing on the Ed Sullivan Show. Afterwards, Sullivan vows to never have the band back, but the Stones perform on the show six times between 1964 through 1969.
Dec.
The Stones finally release a single in which both songs are written by Richards and Jagger, "Heart of Stone" and "What a Shame."
1965
Jan. 15
The band releases their next ablum titled The Rolling Stones No. 2 in the United Kingdom. The following month it's released as The Rolling Stones, Now! in the United States. The album includes the single "The Last Time," which becomes the first song written by Jagger and Richards to reach number one in the United Kingdom.
June
"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" is released. It becomes an international #1 hit.
July 30
The Rolling Stones release the album Out of Our Heads in the United States. Two months later it is released in the United Kingdom.
Dec. 4
December's Children (And Everbody's) is released. As with all of their 1965 album releases, this one reaches the Top 5 Billboard chart in the United States.
1966
April 15
Aftermath is released in the United Kingdom. Two months later it is released in the United States. It's the first album where all the songs are written by Jagger and Richards.
June 11
"Paint It Black" becomes a number one single in the United States.
Dec. 10
Got Live If You Want It!, the band's first live album is released.
1967
Jan. 20
Between the Buttons is released in the United Kingdom. It's released in the United States the following month.
Feb. 26
"Ruby Tuesday" becomes a hit.
March - April
The Rolling Stones tour Europe.
Dec. 8
The band releases Their Satanic Majesties Request, the first album produced entirely by the Rolling Stones.
1968
Dec. 6
The album, Beggar's Banquet is released. That same month, the band also films The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, but the movie isn't released until 1996.
1969
July 3
Brian Jones drowns in his swimming pool. A few days later a memorial concert is held in his honor. Jones' replacement, Mick Taylor makes his first appearance with the band during the memorial concert.
Aug. 23
"Honky Tonk Woman" becomes a number one hit in the United States.
Nov. - Dec.
The band goes on tour, including 23 dates in the United States.
Dec. 5
Let It Bleed is released.
1970
Sept. 4
Get Yer Ya-Yas Out! The Rolling Stones in Concert is released. Their second live album, it spends 16 weeks on the album charts in the United States, peaking at number one.
Aug. - Oct.
The band tours, playing 22 shows in Europe.
1971
March
The Stones play 17 shows in the United Kingdom.
April 23
Sticky Fingers, the first album on their own label, Rolling Stones Records, is released. The label is set up to also allow the band members to record solo albums.
May 23
"Brown Sugar" becomes a hit.
1972
May 12
Exile on Main St. is released.
June - July
The band embarks on a North American tour of 50 shows. During the tour, two concert films are made. Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones, which will come out two years later. The second film, Cocksucker Blues is never released.
1973
Jan. - Feb.
The Stones are forced to cancel five shows in Japan when they cannot get visas due to their past drug convictions. However, they do play multiple shows in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
Aug. 31
Goats Head Soup is released.
Oct. 14
"Angie" becomes a hit.
1974
Oct. 16
It's Only Rock'n Roll is released.
Dec.
Mick Taylor leaves the band because he feels he's not getting the songwriting credits he deserves.
1975
March
Even though he is still a member of Faces, Ronnie Wood replaces Mick Taylor in the Stones. He takes part in the Rolling Stones 1975 tour and all recording sessions.
June - Aug.
The band goes on tour, playing 27 cities throughout North America.
Dec.
Faces break up and Ronnie Wood becomes a permanent member of the Rolling Stones.
1976
April 23
Black and Blue is released.
April - June
The Stones tour Europe, playing 25 cities.
1977
Sept. 23
Love You Live, the band's third live alubm, is released.
1978
June 9
Some Girls is released.
June - July
The Stones tour the United States again, playing 24 shows.
July 30
"Miss You" becomes a hit.
1980
June 20
Emotional Rescue is released.
1981
Aug. 24
Tattoo You is released.
Sept. - Dec.
The Rolling Stones American Tour includes 51 shows in the United States.
1982
June 1
"Still Life" (American Concert 1981) is released. It is a live album, taped during the Stones 1981 tour in the United States.
May - July
In celebration of their 20th anniversary, the band tours Europe, playing 35 shows.
1983
Nov. 7
Undercover is released.
1985
Dec.
Founding member Ian Stewart dies of a heart attack. He is the band's road manager and pianist at the time of his death.
1986
March 24
Dirty Work is released.
1989
March
The Rolling Stones are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Aug. 29
Steel Wheels is released.
Aug.
The band launches a massive tour that lasts an entire year. They play 115 shows, touring the United States, Japan and Europe. When the tour ends, Bill Wyman quits the band. However, his departure isn't announced until 1993.
1991
April 8
Flashpoint, another live album, is released.
1993
Jan.
Bill Wyman's retirement is officially announced. Darryl Jones replaces him.
1994
July 11
Voodoo Lounge is released.
Aug.
The band begins its Voodoo Lounge tour. The tour lasts until Aug. 1995. The band plays 129 shows in 27 countries. During the tour, they perform at venues such as the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Nov.
The Rolling Stones become the first major band to stream a live concert on the Internet.
1995
Nov. 13
Stripped, a live album, is released.
1996
Oct.
The Rolling Stone Rock and Roll Circus, a concert film, is released. Its release comes 30 years after the concert was filmed.
1997
Sept. 29
Bridges to Babylon is released.
Sept.
The Bridges to Babylon tour is launched. During the tour, the band plays 108 shows in Europe, North America, South America, and Japan. The tour lasts until June 1999.
1998
Nov.
No Security, the Bridges of Babylon live concert album is released.
2002
Sept.
The band goes on another tour. This one is named The Licks Tour and includes 117 shows in Asia, Austraila, North America, and Europe. The tour lasts until Nov. 2003.
2004
Nov.
A double live album, Live Licks, is released.
2005
Sept. 5
The Stones release their 24th studio album, A Bigger Bang.
Aug.
The band spends another two years on the road for the Bigger Bang tour, playing 146 shows in more than two dozen countries.
2008
April 1
Shine a Light, the band's 10th live album, is released.
2011
Oct. 18
Brussels Affair (Live 1973), is released.
Nov. 15
The Rolling Stones: Some Girls Live In Texas '78, is released.
2012
Jan. 30
Hampton Coliseum (Live 1981), is released. It is available only as a digital download via Google Music.
April 2
L.A. Friday (Live 1975), is released. It is available only as a digital download via Google Music.
July 2
Live at the Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago 1981, is released. A DVD is also available with the CD.
July 11
Live at the Tokyo Dome (Live 1990), is released. It is available only as a digital download via Google Music.
Oct. 16
Light the Fuse (Live 2005), is released. It is available only as a digital download via Google Music.
Nov. 13
Live at Leeds (1982), is released. It is available only as a digital download via Google Music.
2013
July 22
Hyde Park Live is released. The live album is sold exclusively as a digital download through iTunes.

by Jennie Wood
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