Chronology

1936 - 2003

1936 October 24 Bill Wyman (William Perks) born Lewisham, London

1941 June 2 Charlie Watts born, Islington, London

1942 February Brian Jones (Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones) born Cheltenham, Gloustershire

1943 July 26 Mick Jagger (Michael Phillip Jagger) born Dartford, Kent

1943 December 18 Keith Richard (Richards) born, Dartford, Kent

1947 June 1 Ronnie Wood born, Hillingdon, Middlesex

1948 January 17 Mick Taylor born Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

1961 July : Mick and Keith holiday with Keith's parents in Devon, Southwest England and practice daily. In a local pub Mick and Keith perform in public for the very first time, doing an Everly Brothers routine to much acclaim.

September: Mick attends the London School of Economics to study economics

October: Through the year and into Spring 1962 young William Perks (Bill) is taking on guitar and soon thereafter bass duties in a band called The Cliftons, playing gigs across London and the nearby county of Essex

1962 Januar: Brian Jones teams up in Oxford with Paul Jones and his band Thunder Odin's Big Secret. They record a tape, featuring Brian's 'Elmore James'-showcase "Dust My Blues" and send it to Alexis Korner in London

Februar: Mick borrows 30 Pounds off his mum to buy equipment so they could sound more like a "proper band."

Marts: Alexis Korner's group Blues Incorporated take up residency on Saturday night at the Jazz Club in Ealing, a suburb in West London. It's the first time that England hears blues played by white people. Dick and Keith see the ad for the shows in U.K music magazines Melody Maker and New Musical Express. Mick soon becomes second-string vocalist for Blues Incorporated, standing in for whenever Long John Baldry couldn't make a show. His repertoire includes Chuck Berry and Little Boy Arnold. One of the players who rotated in and out of the Blues Incorporated line-up was Brian Jones who was billed as 'Elmo Lewis'.- a pseudonym in honor of his slide-guitar playing Blues hero, Elmore James. Mick and Keith see him on stage and immediately ask him to join them in setting up a band. Also guesting on various occasions is drummer Charlie Watts whose incredible expertise soon make him the most sought after Blues drummer on the London scene

Following the previous night's excitement, Little Boy Blue And The Blue Boys record a tape featuring their current oevre, including "Around And Around", "Bright Lights Big City" and "Reelin' 'N' Rockin'" and post it to Alexis Korner in order to cement a relationship. After listening to it, Korner's first remark was that they sounded bloody awful!

April: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones set out to form the best blues band in Britain. Brian Jones coins the band's name - The Rolling Stones, a homage to the Muddy Waters song . Ian Stewart, whose day job is a shipping clerk at Imperial Chemical Industries, plays piano and Dick Taylor is on bass. They practice three times a week in a room upstairs at the Soho London pub, the Bricklayers Arms.

July 12 Rolling Stones play first gig at London's Marquee Club
In July, the Stones take their name from a Muddy Waters song called "Rollin' Stone Blues" and make their live debut at London's Marquee Club (minus Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts). They start playing pubs and clubs around the city and suburbs. Bill Wyman joins late in the year -- the popular story being that he was asked because he had his own amplifier!

August: Mick, Keith and Brian move to a flat in 102 Edith Grove. The term "flat" may be an overstatement. The derelict bedsit was closer to a squat. Later on, at one of their gigs at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond they ask the audience for a fourth party to come and live with them. Printer James (Jimmy) Phelge jumps at the chance and moves in shortly thereafter. Being very eccentric himself, he fits into the bizarre household perfectly

September: Having lost all faith in the band, bass player Dick Taylor quits and decides to persue his studies at the Royal College of Art. Soon after he goes back into music and forms The Pretty Things.

27. October: The Rolling Stones take their status as recording artists one step further past the Little Boy Blues demo stage in their career. They bravely book into the Curly Clayton Soound Studios in North London without a bass player and still no permanent drummer, inviting Tony Chapman to be their drummer for the day. In an hour the band record three classic R&B tracks by Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed and Bo Diddley, hoping to impress a record company. EMI turns the disc down flat and someone at Decca is overheard saying, "It's a great band, but you'll never get anywhere with that singer

December: Bill Wyman's first gig with The Stones on bass at St. Mary's Parish Church Hall Youth Club in Richmond.

1963 In January, Charlie Watts joins the Stones and plays his first gigs. The band gigs constantly with residencies at venues like Ealing Jazz Club, Ken Colyer's Studio 51 and Eel Pie Island in Twickenham. Audiences often consist of fellow budding blues musicians like Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend. Their weekly steamy nights at the Crawdaddy at Richmond's Station Hotel result in ecstatic press reviews, and in April a sharp young mover called Andrew Loog Oldham catches the Stones at the Crawdaddy and signs them to his management company the next day. He starts the "Would you let your daughter marry a Rolling Stone" press campaign which endears the group to hordes of youngsters who find the Beatles a tad cute. The shockwaves are still being felt today.

14.April: Things really come to a head when four men in long leather overcoats walk into the club. As Bill Wyman recall in his autobiography - "Shit! That's The Beatles! After meeting The Beatles, the Stones are invited to see the Fab Four at the Royal Albert Hall. A horde of fans mistook Brian Jones for a Beatle and mobbed him. Afterwards he's quoted as saying, "This is what we want!" Andrew Oldham arranges for the band to play at the Battersea Funfair Charity Concert, which ironically is organised by the tabloid The News Of The World (see 1967's Redlands drugs bust). By now, the management has put its stamp on the band, dropping Ian Stewart from the official line-up because he doesn't look the part and "six is too many for a band anyway." He's asked to stay on as The Stones' roadie and studio piano player (occasionally on stage). Keith Richards is asked to omit the 's' from his surname so, according to Andrew Oldham's masterplan, teenagers may be tricked into thinking that he's related to Cliff Richard! On Eric Easton's behalf, Mick is questioned to be a suitable singer for the band and Brian, the band's founder, has his old mate Paul Jones on stand-by. Andrew manages to save the singer's credibility and Mick stays on.
In May, the Stones are signed to Decca Records by an A&R man infamous for turning down the Beatles.

June 7 'Come On'the first Rolling Stones single, is released. An older generation recoils in horror as the group performs the song on England's top pop TV show "Thank Your Lucky Stars." The song -- an obscure Chuck Berry cover -- climbs to No. 21 on the U.K. charts.

September 29 Start of first major British tour

November 1 The second single, I Wanna Be Your Man' is given to the group by John Lennon and Paul McCartney after they run into the Stones on the street. They finish writing it on the spot. That reaches No. 12. Live gigs are already attracting hordes of screaming teenage girls who drown out the band.

1964 The group start the year on their first major package tour supporting America's Ronettes, the girl group produced by Phil Spector. In January, the Rolling Stones EP -- four covers of current U.S. rock'n'soul classics -- appears.

February 21 , they release a third single, a version of Bo Diddley's "'Not Fade Away," which features Phil Spector on maracas.
By now the Stones are becoming a ferocious R&B machine. They ditch the stage uniforms, grow their hair longer and inspire a legion of lookalikes. No group in history has sparked such horror in the older generation. "Not Fade Away" becomes the Stones' first Top 10 entry, hitting No. 3.

April 16, The first album The Rolling Stones immediately sparks controversy for being untitled and featuring no writing on the cover. It reaches No.1. The record mainly consists of raw, feisty covers by heroes like Chuck Berry and Willie Dixon. It also features the first bona fide Jagger/Richards composition, "Tell Me," which was written after Andrew Oldham locked them in his kitchen with the intent of writing some songs. In April, there's teen mayhem when they play the NME Pollwinners' Concert at Wembley Arena.
In the Daily Mirror, Mr. Wallace Scowcroft, President of the National Federation of Hairdressers offered a free haircut to the next number one group or soloist in the Pop charts, adding - "The Rolling Stones are the worst. One of them looks as if he has got a feather duster on his head." A month later, the newspaper publishes the headline "Beatle Your Rolling Stones Hair!" whilst running the story of a head master who has expelled 11 boys from his school for having a Rolling Stones-type hair style.

The Stones' first album knocks The Beatles' "With The Beatles" album off the No. 1 spot in the British charts after being only a week on sale
In June, the band's cover of the Valentinos' "It's All Over Now" becomes the Stones' first No.1 and gold record. It was recorded at Chicago's legendary Chess studios -- home of Muddy Waters and other Stones heroes -- during the group's first U.S. tour that month. The Stones go on to predate the dance music explosion by 25 years and headline their fan club's "All Night Rave" at London's Alexandra Palace, which also features John Lee Hooker and winds down at 6:30 a.m.

In August, more Chess material appears on the Five By Five EP, and November caps an eventful year with another chart-topper -- a cover of Willie Dixon's "Little Red Rooster."

October 25 Debut appearance on Ed Sullivan show

1965 January 15 .The momentum continues -- as does the band's superhuman schedule -- with a second chart-topping album, “Rolling Stones No 2” In February, the single "The Last Time" (the first A-side to be written by Mick and Keith) also hits No. 1.
April 23 Start of third north American tour
July 7 “Satisfaction” goes to Number 1 in U.S. charts sweeps the world and becomes one of the biggest Stones anthems ever. Keith says he woke up in the middle of the night in a motel room with that riff in his head and had to whack it down there and then. The following month sees the release of the Got Live If You Want It EP -- a noisy record of the live show recorded over the first three days of the March U.K. tour.

July Stones third album “Out Of Our Heads” , recorded between U.S. dates and featuring a bunch of Jagger/Richards gems. The chart topping “Get Off Of My Cloud” puts the cap on another action-packed year

October 29 Fourth sell-out north American tour starts at Forum, Montreal

November “December Children” released in U.S.

1966 February sees the single “19^th Nervous Breakdown” followed by the ground-breaking, chart-vaulting "Aftermath" album, on which the Stones start to experiment with different instruments and 11-minute tracks. Every song is written by Mick and Keith.

February 18 Stones begin first tour of Australia

In May, the expansion of the Stones' sound continues on the number one "Paint It Black" single, where Brian's sitar rides the pummelling beat. September's "Have You Seen Your Mother Baby, Standing In The Shadows?" single sees the group's first dabblings with full-on psychedelia. October sees the group's last U.K. tour for three years (with Ike & Tina Turner supporting).

1967 January 13 'Let's Spend The Night Together', released in the U.S.

January 27 The Between The Buttons album sees a further flowering of the psychedelically inclined studio experimentation expanding the Stones' current whimsical English pop music. In February , Mick and Keith are arrested when Keith's Redlands home is raided by the police. Thus starts the run of high-profile court appearances that divide the nation's generations and are widely believed to be part of some greater conspiracy to silence the unbelievably powerful Stones. But despite all the charges hurled against Jagger, Richards and Jones, no Stone went to jail for any extended period.
After the bust, the Stones tour Europe to literally riotous responses in many cases, and headline the massively popular "Sunday Night At The London Palladium" TV show, where they perform the already-controversial "Let's Spend The Night Together" single and its genteel flip "Ruby Tuesday." They spark further outrage by refusing to ride on the silly roundabout at the end of the show.
May 10 Brian Jones arrested in London on drugs charges
June 27 Jagger and Richard found guilty of possessing drugs and given prison sentences

July 1 London Times newspaper criticizes severity of sentences on Jagger and Richard

July 31 Appeal court judge gives Jagger discharge and quashes Richard's conviction

In August, the hastily assembled "We Love You" single is released to thank the public for their support during the Jagger/Richards trials. Lennon and McCartney pop up on backing vocals while Mick and girlfriend Marianne Faithful return the favor by joining in with the Beatles "All You Need Is Love" for the "Our World" simultaneous satellite TV broadcast. In December, the highly experimental Their Satanic Majesties Request album baffles many with its extended psychedelic explorations, but still hits the top three. Much attention is focused on its three-dimensional sleeve.
October 30 Brian Jones -sentenced to nine months imprisonment on drugs charges

November 27 “Their Satanic Majesties Request” album released in the States

December 12 Brian Jones has prison sentence set aside and is given three years probation

1968 In May, the Stones make a surprise appearance at the end of the NME Pollwinners' Concert. It is immediately obvious that the group have returned to their blues roots as they tear into the new “Jumpin Jack Flash” single enters U.S. chart June 8 and gets to Number 1"and "Satisfaction." After the uncertainty of the previous year the Stones are back to claim their crown as Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band In The World. "Jumpin' Jack Flash" is released later that month and pole vaults to the top. The Beggars Banquet album is supposed to follow in August, but Decca objects to the Stones' graffiti-splattered toilet wall sleeve and it finally emerges in a plain white cover in December. The album launch party ends up with the Stones hurling custard pies in the faces of Decca executives. The album itself shows a new maturity and bluesy raunch, as well as the dark and dangerous image epitomized by "Sympathy For The Devil."

July 26 Stones release “Street Fighting Man” in U.S.

September 26 Brian Jones fined $100 for possessing cannabis

December 5 “Beggar's Banquet” (London) LP released in U.S. and reaches Number 2 in Hot 100

December 12 Rock’n Roll Circus TV show filmed in Wembley, England, with Eric Clapton, The Who and John Lennon

1969 After a meeting with other band members, Brian Jones leaves the Stones on June 8, saying he wants to form a new group. A few days later the Stones hold a photo call in London's Hyde Park to introduce their new guitarist, Mick Taylor , who was formerly in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. He will make his live debut with the Stones at a free concert to be held in London's Hyde Park on July 5, and plays on the upcoming single, "Honky Tonk Women"/"You Can't Always Get What You Want."

On July 3, Brian Jones is found dead in his swimming pool in Sussex. The Hyde Park gig becomes a memorial for Brian and the group unveil their new songs. The classic bar room raunch of "Honky Tonk Women" is unleashed a week later and shoots to No. 1.
July 10 Brian Jones buried in home town of Cheltenham
July 13 Mick Jagger films Ned Kelly in Australia

August 12 'Honky Tonk Women' Number 1 in U.S.

The chart-topping Let It Bleed album is released in December and turns out to be another feast of apocalyptic blues ("Gimme Shelter"), salacious melodrama ("Midnight Rambler") and more tales from the darkside. November 7 Stones start sixth American tour at State University, Fort Collins, Colorado the first U.S. tour since 1966 and, in the new climate of audiences who sit and listen, find the new live power and sense of occasion which remains with them to this day.

November 28 “Let It Bleed” album released in the States and peaks at Number 2 in the chart

The U.S. tour climaxes in December 6 Meredith Hunter killed by Hells' Angel during Stones performance at Altamont Speedway Track, California

1970 Two years after it was filmed, Mick Jagger's movie debut in Nic Roeg and Donald Cammell's Performance finally gets released. Jagger plays reclusive rock star Turner. It's accompanied by a soundtrack to which Mick contributed "Memo from Turner."
August 15 Stones launch self-titled record label
In September, a live album of the previous year's Madison Square Garden show New York, Get Yer Ya-Yas Out, hits No. 1. It's initially designed as an official alternative to the Stones bootlegs starting to appear. The 1969 tour also results in the movie, Gimme Shelter.December 6 Premiere of documentary film Gimme Shelter at Plaza Theatre, New York

1971 January 4 British premiere of the movie Performance starring Mick Jagger

The Stones, whose contract with Decca has expired, launch their Rolling Stones Records imprint with the mighty double header of "Brown Sugar" and "Bitch," which continue to push the barriers and court controversy with their lyrics. March 4 Stones start farewell British tour

February 6 Stones quilt U.K to become tax exiles in the south of France. In April the mothership album, Sticky Fingers, appears with a sleeve designed by Andy Warhol, which depicts a mystery groin complete with adjustable zipper! While the rock 'n' roll is sleazier than ever, a beautifully damaged haze hangs over tracks like "Sister Morphine" and "Wild Horses," which features the country influence of Keith's new mate, Gram Parsons from the Flying Burrito Brothers.

April 23 Stones new album “Sticky Fingers” which tops U.S. chart

May 12 Mick Jagger marries, Bianca Perez Marena De Macia in St Tropez

June1 'Brown Sugar' tops U.S. chart

1972 In April, the Top Five hit "Tumbling Dice" is the first single to trailer the upcoming double album “Exile On Main Street” recorded in the basement of Keith's house in the south of France. The album is derided at the time for sprawling self-indulgence, but Keith is always glad to point out that it is now held up among the band's most enduring work.
May26 double LP released and tops U.S. and U.K. charts
June 3 The Stones tour the States -seventh north American tour opens in Vancouver- described by organizer Pete Rudge as "not like a rock 'n' roll tour, more like the Normandy landing." It sees the group setting a standard of the grand spectacle required for stadium gigs.
July 26 Stones play Madison Square Garden, New York on Jagger's birthday

1973 January 18 Stones play a benefit concert at Los Angeles Forum for Nicaraguan earthquake

In August, the balladic "Angie" trailers the more melodic Goats Head Soup album, recorded in Jamaica; stirring it up with the controversial "Starfucker" finale. The tour hits Europe, including a spectacular stretch at Wembley Arena

October 24 Keith Richard fined $400 for possessing drugs and weapons in London

1974 July's Top 10 single, "It's Only Rock'n'Roll," started life in Ronnie Wood's South London home studio, with David Bowie on backing vocals and the Faces' Kenny Jones on drums. The roughhouse rock feel is continued on the album of the same name, although the highlight could be considered the haunting ballad, "Time Waits For No One."
The Stones/Wood connection becomes closer when Keith appears on most of Ronnie's first solo album, I've Got My Own Album To Do, and both Mick Taylor and Jagger guest. Keith appears with Ronnie at his Kilburn State gig in July. In December 12 Mick Taylor quits group
November “It’s Only Rock’nRoll” tops U.S. album chart

1975 After much speculation and a string of recording sessions-cum-auditions in Munich, which eventually give birth to the Black and Blue album, the Stones announce Mick Taylor's replacement -- April 14 Ronnie Wood. (Candidates who didn't get past the jamming phase include Jeff Beck, Peter Frampton and Rory Gallagher). Ronnie has already taken leave from the Faces to joins The Rolling Stones for an American tour, and Keith admits he nearly asked him to join back when Brian left.

May 1 Stones play 'Brown Sugar' on a truck in New York's Fifth Avenue to promote U.S. tour

June 22 Eric Clapton jams with The Stones at Madison Square Garden on 'Sympathy For The Devil'

1976 February 28 Ronnie Wood officially joins The Rolling Stones

Black and Blue is released April 20 “Black And Blue” and features those guest spots from guitarists Harvey Mandel, Wayne Perkins and the successful Mr. Wood. "Fool to Cry" is the single and makes the Top 10. That summer, the group tour and appear straddling an unfolding lotus stage complete with giant inflatable penis and Tarzan rope for Mick album released

Stones play six dates at London’s Earls Court

Stones play Knebworth Festval, England

1977 In February, Keith Richard and Anita Pallenberg arrested for possession of heroin at Harbor Castle Hotel,Toronto, where the Stones are playing some low-key club dates to record for an upcoming live album. October's Love You Live double album features songs from the previous tour and a side from the Toronto gigs at the El Mocambo club.

1978 May 14 Bianca Jagger files for divorce

The dance music-influenced "Miss You" (one of the early 12" singles) hits the number one spot in the U.S. The Some Girls LP follows. Originally called Some More Fast Numbers, some say the charged energy level is influenced by the recent punk rock explosion. In fact, the next single, "Respectable," shows the group commenting on their new status as "pillars of society" -- before slamming into brief acquaintance Margaret Trudeau, the Stones-slumming wife of the Canadian Prime Minister.
June 9 “Some Girls” album released-tops U.S. chart
June 10 Stones start U.S. tour in Lakeland, Florida to wildly enthusiastic audiences and equally ecstatic reviews. All stage props have been stripped back, to allow room for the new energy coursing through the group with a totally integrated Ronnie Wood and fully-cylindered Keith Richards.
July 13 Stones play biggest ever indoor concert, drawing 80000 to New Orleans Superdrome

October 23 Keith Richard given one-year suspended sentence and ordered to give charity concert for the blind after drugs trial in Toronto. Reverts to being called Keith Richards

1979 Wood releases a third solo album, Gimme Some Neck, which again features Keith and Mick.

April 22 , the Stones join together to support Keith, doing a set for the Benefit Concert for the blind which honors the Toronto court's sentencing commitment.

August 11 Keith then joins Ronnie for The New Barbarians tour. The Barbs appear at the Knebworth Festival supporting Led Zeppelin.

1980 In June a new single, the reggae and disco-tinged "Emotional Rescue," trailers the album of the same name and hits the Top 10.
July 5 “Emotional Rescue” album released and stays seven weeks at Number 1 in U.S.

1981 August sees "Start Me Up" motor into the Top 10 as a slashing kickstart trailer for the upcoming album,

August 31 “Tattoo You” album released, which also includes the warm follow-up single, "Waiting On A Friend." The Stones undertake the first of periodic mega-tours which sees them astride a colossal stadium-stage, complete with hydraulic platforms and huge avant garde paintings

September 25 Stones' tenth 50-date U.S. tour begins at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia

October 17 146000 fans attend Stones show at Candlestick park, San Francisco

1982 May 21 In Scotland The Stones start European tour, including several nights at London's Wembley Stadium. In June, the Stones release “Still Life” a live album drawn from the '81 American gigs along with the group's cover of "Going To A Go Go."

1983 It's August and in typical Stones fashion, an agreement is reached and signed a new record deal with CBS at 3:00 a.m. in Paris' Ritz Hotel by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and CBS head Walter Yetnikoff. The deal is reportedly worth 28 million dollars and calls for the Stones to deliver four studio albums.
In October, the "Undercover Of The Night" single is unveiled with the theme of South American political unrest dominating an epic video directed by Julian Temple. Mick's execution scene stirs some controversy while Keith sports a skull mask and a gun. The single reached the Top 10, as did the album with its peel-the-stickers-off-the-stripper sleeve
November 7 “Undercover” album released

1984 June 30 Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson have hit single “State Of Shock”

1985 In February, the Stones are in Paris recording Dirty Work at Pathe-Marconi Studio. Mick Jagger releases his first solo album, She's The Boss. In June he duets with David Bowie on the specially recorded version of "Dancing In The Street" for Live Aid. Mick also appears at the all-day event in Philadelphia, singing a saucy duet with Tina Turner in which he whips off her skirt. It's his first ever live solo set performed in front of 1.5 billion viewers. Later that day, Keith and Ronnie flank Bob Dylan for an acoustic set to close the show at JFK Stadium. Three months later, Keith and Ronnie repeat their acoustic act, backing Bono for a version of "Silver And Gold," which appears on the Artists United Against Apartheid album.
Later that year, the Stones begin work on a new album. Near the end of the sessions -- which the group later admit were not their most harmonious -- their road manager, soul brother and "Sixth Stone" Ian Stewart dies of a massive heart attack in London December 12. at the age of 47. Ian had been with the group since the start and still played piano on stage. "We all felt the glue had come unstuck," says a grieving Keith.
November 18 Charlie Watts Big Band opens at, London's Ronnie Scott's Club

1986 February 23 Rolling Stones play a secret gig at London's 100 Club in Memory of Ian Stewart

"Harlem Shuffle" -- a cover of Bob & Earl's 1964 hit featuring soul legend Bobby Womack on backing vocals -- is released in March and hits the Top 20. The "Dirty Work"album follows and is dedicated to Ian Stewart. It closes with one of Keith's most moving ballads, "Sleep Tonight." Again there is no tour although Charlie takes the big band across the States later that year and repeats the exercise during lulls in the Stones' schedule from then on.

1987 March Mick Jagger and Keith Richards fail out over Jagger's solo tour plans

August15 Keith records his first solo album for Virgin Records at Montreal's Le Studio. Taylor Hackford's Chuck Berry tribute, Hail! Hail! Rock'N'Roll, opens in October. Keith is the musical director of the movie, which features performances by Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Etta James, Julian Lennon, Robert Cray and Richards himself.

September 14 Jagger releases new solo LP “Primitive Cool”

1988 March 15, Mick enjoys an hugely successful tour of Japan and Australia.

May 18 Stones meet in London to discuss future.

October 4 Keith Richards' solo LP “Talk is Cheap” released on Virgin. He follows this with a three-week sold-out tour of the U.S. with his back-up band, the X-Pensive Winos. "Take It So Hard" is the first single and video released. On October 16th, Keith, whose house in Jamaica suffered hurricane damage, guests at the "Smile Jamaica" hurricane relief benefit concert at the Dominion Theater, London. He plays two songs with U2-- "Love Rescue Me" and "When Love Comes To Town."

24th November Keith Richards' X-Pensive Winos Band starts U.S. tour in Atlanta, Georgia

1989 January 18 the Rolling Stones are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. Mick, Keith, Ron and Mick Taylor are present at the ceremony held at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. The absence of Wyman and presence of Taylor sparks rumors that the Stones will tour with Taylor replacing Wyman, and Ron Wood will move to the bass. Pete Townshend helps induct the Stones, telling them in his speech, "Guys, whatever you do, don't try to grow old gracefully. It wouldn't suit you." Mick replies in his own speech: "After a lifetime of bad behavior, it's slightly ironic that tonight you see us on our best behavior." Mick, Keith, Ronnie, and Mick Taylor join the now-expected all-star jam session, during which Mick duets with Tina Turner on "Honky Tonk Women," and with Little Richard on "Can't Turn You Loose" and "Bony Moronie." He then brings down the house with "Start Me Up."

Keith releases his second video "Make No Mistake," directed by Paula Grief, from Talk Is Cheap in March. In May, he is presented with the "Living Legend Award" at the International Rock Awards.

Earlier, Mick and Keith meet at Eddy Grant's studio in Barbados to see if they can still write songs together. Before the meeting, there's speculation as to whether the two can still remain in the same room. Two months later, they have 12 new tunes ready, plus the usual welter of unfinished ideas. Working like they did on the classic albums of the '60's and '70's -- from the groundfloor and building -- they come out with a string of gems, which are then honed and bashed into shape by the whole group at George Martin's AIR Studios in Montserrat with Chris Kimsey co-producing. The band whack everything down live in five weeks, with mixing to follow in London.

June 2 Bill Wyman marries Mandy Smith in Suffolk, England

In July, the Rolling Stones hold a press conference at New York's Grand Central Station to announce their forthcoming Steel Wheels tour and album. Mick holds up a ghetto blaster and plays the new "Mixed Emotions" single to the assembled world media.

August 29 "Steel Wheels" album released in U.S, and puts the group back onto the world's charts.
Steel Wheels is a Stones classic. A complete album of new stuff, as opposed to touched up old demos like much of the late-'70's and '80's output. The sound is raw and bristling on tracks like the first single, "Mixed Emotions," but the album also proves the band can still deliver gorgeous ballads like "Almost Hear You Sigh," or Keith's lovely "Slippin' Away."
While the album is generally acclaimed as the group's best in years, the group make it a double whammy with the awesome scope and spectacle of the "Steel Wheels" tour. The stage set is the biggest ever, a surreal post-nuclear nightmare factory, all girders, funnels and catwalks bathed in ferocious lighting and walls of fire and smoke. The set straddles the Stones' entire career in over two hours with every song a piece-de-resistance -- from the giant inflatable "Honky Tonk Women" to Mick's materialization one hundred feet above the stage for "Sympathy." The group play like their lives depend on it, and also like they were having a total blast.

August 31 Stones start Steel Wheels tour at the Veterans' Stadium, Philadelphia, the huge operation (a veritable mobile army) goes on to play around 70 gigs. In December, the U.S. leg ends up at the Atlantic City Convention Center for a radio-TV simulcast. Guests include John Lee Hooker, Axel Rose and Izzy Stradlin from Guns 'N Roses, and Eric Clapton.

1990 February, the Stones tour Japan for the first time with 10 sold-out shows at Tokyo's Korakuen Dome, playing to 50,000 a night. For Europe, Steel Wheels gives way to Urban Jungle -- partly because European stadiums aren't big enough for the huge set, partly because they just fancied a change of scenery. The new stage resembles a post-nuclear tropical ruin, with giant inflatable dogs appearing during "Street Fighting Man." It hits London's Wembley Stadium in July 4, then again in August at the end of the tour, with the resurrection of the Steel Wheels set. Over the past year, the Stones have played 115 shows to over six million people.

1991 All five members of the band immerse themselves in solo projects. In November, at the London office of the Stones' financial advisor Rupert Loewenstein, Mick, Keith, Charlie, Ronnie are present for the signing of the Stones' deal with Virgin Records.

1992 The Stones take the year off to recharge their batteries. Meanwhile Richards records and releases his second solo album, Main Offender, on Virgin. He tours Europe and then goes where no Stone has gone before -- Argentina, where the X-Pensive Winos play to a Buenos Aires crowd of 40,000.

1993 The Stones celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of their first single. During a live interview on the BBC's "London Tonight" news program in January, Bill Wyman finally makes it official: "I really don't want to do it anymore." Regarding his efforts to prevent Bill from quitting, Keith states: "I did everything but hold him at gunpoint."

Also in January, Ronnie plays the first of four solo concerts in Japan, wrapping up on the 14th at Tokyo's Budokan. Meanwhile, Mick releases his third solo album, Wandering Spirit. The night of the release, Mick plays a private concert for 1,200 invited guests at New York's Webster Hall. Guests include Robert De Niro and Francis Ford Coppola. Mick performs 11 songs from his new album, then encores with the Stones' "Rip This Joint," "Live With Me," and "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby (Standing In The Shadows)?" The tour ends with sell-out shows in Tokyo. Three days later in Seattle, Keith opens the U.S. leg of his Main Offender tour. Later in the year, Billy Joel inducts Keith into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame

1994 After pre-production in Barbados, the Stones gather in Dublin, Ireland at Windmill Studios to start work on a new album. Their first under a new deal with Virgin, the band sees much of the back catalogue re-mastered on CD. Don Was is picked as co-producer of Voodoo Lounge alongside the Glimmer Twins. Was, who made his name with the surreal rock 'n' soul of Was Not Was, has recently produced Bonnie Raitt, the B-52's, Bob Dylan and Iggy Pop. Bassist Darryl Jones and keyboard player Chuck Leavell are called in to help out. Other guests include Ivan Neville, Bobby Womack, Bernard Fowler, Benmont Tench, Flaco Jimenez and Luis Jardim.
July Rolling Stones release "Voodoo Lounge" album. It's the Stones' 22nd studio album (36th overall) and marks their debut with Virgin Records.
The results are staggering. As virtually all reviews have pointed out, Voodoo Lounge is peak Stones; a group firing on all cylinders. After the success of the Steel Wheels project, the Stones know they have nothing to prove and the new sound seems less self-conscious and more inventive than their recent work. It's the sound of a group getting together and raising the hell they know and love. Mick's singing is stronger and more expressive than usual, notably on the chilling anti-terrorism ballad "Blinded By Rainbows," and lascivious car song "Brand New Car," which is in the best tradition of double entendre blues. Like all Rolling Stones classic albums, each song is propelled by Keith's explosive guitar riffs and underpinned by Charlie's ferocious drumming.

August 21 Stones commence American Voodoo Lounge tour
The album and its accompanying tour is announced in New York -- this time after the group arrive via boat at Pier 60. The tour kicks off on August 1 at Washington. D.C.'s RFK Stadium, and plays the U.S., Canada, Japan, Mexico, South America and the Far East. As Bobby Keys, long time Stones sax player, once remarked in a choice moment during the 1971 outing: "Looks like rock 'n' roll is on the road again!"
And how! The Voodoo Lounge tour launches with a shower of praise from critics and fans alike. In between playing to sold-out shows in stadiums across the U.S., the Stones find time to pick up an MTV Lifetime Achievement Award, plus a Billboard Award for Artistic Excellence. The band also make history on November 10, when they become the first rock 'n' roll band to broadcast a concert live on the Internet. By the end of the year, sales of the Voodoo Lounge album pass the four million mark, and the North American leg of the tour is written into the record books as the most successful tour in history.

1995 The year starts in Stones' usual breathless fashion -- this time because of the high altitude of Mexico City's Autodromo Stadium. A lack of oxygen was no problem throughout the South American leg of the tour. Having never played South America as a band before, the Stones are greeted with a fever-pitch hysteria that's overwhelming, even by Latin standards. In Argentina, they are mobbed wherever they go and are kept awake by 5:00 a.m. reprises of the chorus of "Wild Horses."
The band sweep through South Africa, a seven-night sell-out stand at the Tokyo Dome, and Australasia before embarking on the final leg of the tour in Europe on June 3 in Stockholm. In Montpellier, they are joined on stage by Bob Dylan for the aptly-titled "Like a Rolling Stone." The band later release their version of the song as a single. While on the road, the band find time to stop and record acoustic versions of classics like "Street Fighting Man," and more arcane numbers like "Spider and the Fly" and "I'm Free." These tracks make up the live acoustic album Stripped.

The tour ends in Rotterdam on August 30 with the promise that this will definitely not be the last time.
While the release of Stripped is seen as a present-day celebration of past glories, the Stones end the year by re-enforcing their commitment to the future by making it enhanced with multimedia content. The band also launch their second official website (Stonesworld) and release their debut CD-ROM (Voodoo Lounge).

1996 Even when not active, the Stones are everywhere, with music featured in Casino (released late in '95), Basquiat (in which Keith also has a song called "Nearness to You" recorded in 1980), and The Fan. Meanwhile, the band once again get involved in solo projects. Charlie Watts is the first to break cover with the release of his quintet's Long Ago & Far Away, which features classics from the likes of Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Hoagy Carmichael. At his home in Jamaica, Keith completes production work on an album which features traditional Rastafarian Bingi drums (to be released later this year).

1997 The Stones continue to redefine rock music and themselves in the process. The ageless rockers begin recording the follow-up to Voodoo Lounge in a Los Angeles studio with executive producer Don Was and producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. The Dust Brothers (Beck, the Beastie Boys) take over behind the mixing board, with mixer/producer Danny Saber (who has re-mixed tracks for U2 and Garbage) and Was also producing a few songs each. Bridges To Babylon is released in the fall.
September 23 Stones start Bridges To Babylon tour at the Soldier Field Chicago, Illinois

1998 5th January - 15th February: Bridges To Babylon North American Tour (2nd leg).

12th March - 13th April: Bridges To Babylon Japan and South American Tour.

17th April - 26th April: Bridges To Babylon North American Tour (3rd leg).

Thirty-five years after they came up, The Rolling Stones are still making history: the North-American leg of the Bridges To Babylon Tour becomes the most successful tour af all time, breaking the previous record of Voodoo Lounge Tour.

May: The tour comes to Europe. Delayed and re-scheduled, due to a Keith Richards' injury after falling from a ladder and shortly interrupted by Mick Jagger sufferring from larryngitis.

13th June - 19th September: Bridges To Babylon European Tour.

In November, the Stones chronicle their 1998 tour with the release of No Security, their third live album of the decade.

1999 25th January - 20th April: No Security North American Tour.

29th May - 20th June: Bridges To Babylon European Tour (Continuation).

2000 MICK JAGGER works for the upcoming album Godess In The Doorway

2001 June and other months: RONNIE WOOD Recording of solotracks for his
upcoming album ‘Not For Beginners’

mid-June - mid-July: MICK JAGGER. Recordings for the upcoming album Goddess In The Doorway,

12th November: MICK JAGGER. release ‘Goddess In The Doorway’

19th November: RONNIE WOOD. release ‘Not For Beginners’
2002 13th May - 7th June: THE ROLLING STONES. Suresnes (near Paris),
France, Recording sessions for the upcoming album ’40 Licks
30th September: THE ROLLING STONES. release Double-CD ’40 Licks‘
Greatest hits compilation incl. four previously unreleased tracks

3rd September THE ROLLING STONES start Licks World Tour in U.S.(1st leg)

2003 8th January - 8th February: THE ROLLING STONES. Licks US Tour (2nd leg).

18th February - 7th April: THE ROLLING STONES. Licks Australasian Tour
4th June start THE ROLLING STONES. Licks European Tour

26th July: Mick Jagger’s 60th birthday celebration, Duplex Club, Prague, Czech Republic

2nd October: Stones end world tour in Zurich.

7th & 9th November: THE ROLLING STONES. Hong Kong-gigs.

30th September: THE ROLLING STONES. release Four Flicks The Rolling Stones DVD