The Rolling Stones came out of England to meet with fame at about the same time as the Beatles (1964) but the Rolling Stones didn't want to be anything like the Beatles. They weren't clean cut like the Beatles, they showed a more agressive sexual and defiant side that made them extremely popular, one of the most popular groups of all time. The Stones were formed in London in 1963 as an R&B band playing their interpretations of American urban blues music. Throught that, the Stones developed their own distinctive style and were producing some of what was considered the best rock music of all time in the late 1960's. They were led by lead singer Mick Jagger, guitarist Keith Richards, drummer Charlie Watts and guitarist Ron Wood. Guitarist Brian Jones died mysteriously in a swimming pool in 1969 and bassist Bill Wyman left the group around the time of the "Steel Wheels" tour in 1989. Some of their most famous albums include "High Tide and Green Grass" (1966), "Between The Buttons" (1967), "Let It Bleed" (1969), "Sticky Fingers" (1971), "Hot Rocks" (1971), "Exile On Main Street" (1972), "Some Girls" (1978), "Steel Wheels" (1989), "Voodoo Lounge" (1994) and "Bridges To Babylon" (1997). Besides their image, the Stones were notorious for their frequent drug related arrests, the riots at their concerts and their concert at Altamont, CA in 1969 in which one spectator was killed by a member of the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Gang. After "Some Girls" in 1978, the group put out several unsuccessful albums during the 80's but revived itself with "Steel Wheels" in 1989 which was followed by one of the most successful world tours. The same touring success followed both of their 90's relases "Voodoo Lounge" and "Bridges to Babylon" with the "Voodoo Lounge" being one of the highest profiting tours of all time. Last year's "Bridges to Babylon" tour was among one of the most popular tours in American history.
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