The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in 1962 in London when multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones and pianist Ian Stewart were joined by vocalist Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards. Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early lineup. Stewart, deemed unsuitable as a teen idol, was removed from the official lineup in 1963 but continued to work with the band as road manager and keyboardist until his death in 1985.
Jagger and Richards early on formed a songwriting partnership and gradually took over leadership of the band from the increasingly troubled and erratic Jones. At first recording mainly covers of American blues and R&B songs, since 1966's Aftermath, The Rolling Stones new studio releases have had almost exlusively Jagger/Richards songs. Shortly before his death in 1969, the band replaced the incapacitated Jones with Mick Taylor. After recording five studio albums with The Rolling Stones, Taylor quit 1974. Faces guitarist Ronnie Wood replaced Taylor and has since remained with the band. Wyman retired in 1993, and bassist Darryl Jones, who is not an official band member, has worked with the group since.