In 1962, at the Marquee Club in London, England, five musicians came together on stage to perform what would be the first show of an up and coming band known as The Rolling Stones.
One year later, the band put our their debut single, a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Come on.”
Over the next year they released two more cover songs as singles before putting together their first album that was simply named, “The Rolling Stones.”
The album came out in the United Kingdom on April 16, 1964 and would be released in the United States on May 30 of the same year, only a few short months after The Beatles played The Ed Sullivan Show.
The band would spend the next 50 years releasing songs, and albums, that not only defined a generation, but would become the foundation for most all of the music that came afterwards.
Over that time span, The Rolling Stones released 25 studio albums, 17 live albums and 26 compilation albums. Along with that, they have a released 107 singles.
Some fans can mull over what their favorite song, or album, is for seemingly an eternity when it comes to their favorite band, but for 2013 UTM graduate, Kory Ruth, there was always one that stuck out more than others.
“Paint it Black, because it was so different,” said Ruth. “You don’t [usually] think of a rock band having so much Indian influence. Then when I first heard that I was [thought], ‘What? What the hell is this?’ You don’t hear that all the time. … it had such a great sound to it. It was so unique.”
Ruth was also able to recall his first ever encounter with the music of The Rolling Stones.
“For my [13th or 14th] birthday my dad got me their me a copy of Forty Licks, their greatest hits, and I was just blown away. I had never heard [them] before … I was just blown away. I constantly put it in the CD player and listened, it must have annoyed my family. … I just loved it.”
One of the things that has helped the group over the years is the performances they had on stage.
“I saw part of the Steel Wheels tour back in 1989,” said Associate Professor of English and guitarist of The House Band, David Carithers. “It wasn’t their greatest album, but it was great to see them. It was in Clemson, SC and I had some friends down there. So I went with them and saw the show. It was probably the first huge rock arena show I saw, because it was in Death Valley Stadium where the Clemson Tigers play. We didn’t have the greatest seats, we were kind of way up in the stands. Mick looked really tiny and we didn’t have binoculars.
“When you hear them live, their harmonies aren’t the greatest. In fact, sometimes they can sound kind of bad, but they certainly sing with feeling. I try to take that approach with my music because I’m not the greatest singer, or player, but I feel like if I can put a lot of feeling into it then maybe I can connect with the audience, or at least make it fun for me.”
Before Dr. Carithers was able to see them in concert that year, The Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for not only their legacy, but the impact they had made on the music scene.
Countless bands have attributed their success to the influence that the band has given them.
Ruth credits The Stones’ for influencing two of the biggest bands of eighties, bands that are still around today.
“We wouldn’t have bands like Aerosmith or Guns n’ Roses without The Rolling Stones,” said Ruth.
Like most great artists, The Rolling Stones have instilled something in all of their listeners. From the ones that were listening in 1964, like a young Steve Tyler, to the young kids who are just being exposed their music.
“I think they have reminded most Americans about what a rich blues tradition we have,” said Dr. Carithers. “I think when they first came over here a lot of Americans didn’t realize what a great tradition we had with Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf and all of those guys.
“I think the way they reinterpreted our own American blues standards has kind of educated a new audience. I know it made me look up Howlin’ Wolf and people like that and buy their albums. Just their huge song list that they have contributed. I mean, you can’t be in a rock and roll band and not play a few stones tunes.”
“They’re a brand,” Ruth said “They put performing on the map. How a rock band should perform and every band since has had to live up to their standard. Sure, I wouldn’t recommend them being role models for children, but musically, that’s the way to go. Write lyrics about having fun and having sex.
“They’re so iconic, especially that tongue logo. Even if you don’t know what band it is, you still know the logo.”
