Chapter 19: The British Invasion
Formed in London in 1962, the Rolling Stones arose from a thriving rhythm and blues scene centered on venues like the Ealing Club, led by blues advocate Alexis Korner. Childhood friends Mick Jagger and Keith Richards reconnected through their shared passion for American R&B and rock and roll records. Jagger sang with Korner’s Blues Incorporated, while Richards honed his guitar skills by emulating Chuck Berry’s riffs. Brian Jones, performing as Elmo Lewis, was also part of this scene, experimenting with bottleneck guitar and blues saxophone. Together with pianist Ian Stewart, bassist Dick Taylor, and drummer Mick Avory, they formed the Rolling Stones—named after Muddy Waters’s song “Rollin’ Stone.”
The band made its debut at London’s Marquee Club in July 1962 and quickly gained a devoted following. As the lineup solidified, Bill Wyman replaced Taylor on bass, and jazz drummer Charlie Watts joined permanently. With their gritty sound, wild stage presence, and unkempt look, the Stones contrasted sharply with the Beatles’ polished image. Manager Andrew Loog Oldham, who began guiding them in 1963, crafted a public persona around rebellion and sexuality. Despite only being nineteen years old and inexperienced in the studio, Oldham became their producer and encouraged the band to embrace their raw, outsider identity. Early press coverage cast them as dangerous and subversive; one critic labeled them “five indolent morons,” while another described them as “wallowing in the swill-tub of their own repulsiveness.”
In 1963, the Stones signed with Decca Records under terms that allowed them to retain ownership of their recordings and gave them extended studio time—an unusual arrangement for a new band. While the The Beatles’ early recordings featured covers of songwriters like Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Smokey Robinson, and Berry Gordy, the Stones sought out the sound of blues pioneers such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Bo Diddley, Jimmy Reed, and Chuck Berry. Their early singles included covers of Chuck Berry’s “Come On” and Willie Dixon’s “I Want to Be Loved.” They also recorded “I Wanna Be Your Man,” a Lennon-McCartney song that helped raise their profile. Although the band briefly appeared in coordinated suits on television, they quickly abandoned this look in favor of casual, mismatched clothing that reinforced their rebellious image.
Throughout their early career, the Rolling Stones positioned themselves as the grittier, darker counterpart to the Beatles. Where the Beatles embodied charm and musical refinement, the Stones embraced chaos, raw emotion, and sexuality. By 1964, their performances had grown more sexually charged and their sound more assertive. Their debut album, The Rolling Stones, leaned heavily on American blues and consisted of blues and R&B covers by artists like Bo Diddley, Jimmy Reed, and Slim Harpo, with Jagger’s vocals delivering a swaggering, sensuous tone that became central to their style. Tracks such as “I’m a King Bee” and “Little by Little” showcased the band’s skill in blending blues traditions with a more aggressive rock sensibility.
Oldham recognized that lasting success required original songs. Famously, he locked Jagger and Richards in a room until they produced new material. This effort yielded “As Tears Go By,” initially given to Marianne Faithfull, and their breakthrough single “The Last Time,” which reached number one in the UK in 1965. Over time, Jagger and Richards evolved from reworking blues standards into crafting complex, riff-driven songs with lyrics expressing frustration and alienation.