The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962.

The
earliest settled line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Ian Stewart
(keyboards, piano), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar,
vocals), Bill Wyman (bass) and Charlie Watts (drums). Since Wyman's retirement
in 1993, the band's full members have been Jagger, Richards, Watts and guitarist
Ronnie Wood. Darryl Jones (bassist) and Chuck Leavell (keyboardist) are regular
contributors but not full band members. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted
the Rolling Stones in 1989, noting that "critical acclaim and popular consensus has
accorded them the title of the Worlds Greatest Rock and Roll Band.
The Rolling Stones emergence brought greater international recognition to the
primitive urban blues typified by Chess Records' artists such as Muddy Waters,
writer of "Rollin' Stone", the song for which the band is named. Critic and
musicologist Robert Palmer said their endurance and relevance stems from being
"rooted in traditional verities, in rhythm-and-blues and soul music" while "more
ephemeral pop fashions have come and gone"
Jagger and Richards shared an admiration of Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, and
Little Walter, and their interest influenced Brian Jones, of whom Richards says, "He
was more into T-Bone Walker and jazz blues stuff. We'd turn him onto Chuck Berry
and say, 'Look, it's all the same shit, man, and you can do it.'"

Charlie Watts, a
traditional jazz drummer, was also introduced to the blues through his association
with the pair. "Keith and Brian turned me on to Jimmy Reed and people like that. I
learned that Earl Phillips was playing on those records like a jazz drummer, playing
swing, with a straight four..."
Jagger, recalling when he first heard the likes of Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Muddy
Waters, Fats Domino, and other major American R&B artists, said it "seemed the
most real thing" he had heard up to that point. Similarly, Keith Richards, describing
the first time he listened to Muddy Waters, said it was the "most powerful music [he
had] ever heard...the most expressive." He also stated, "when you think of some
dopey, spotty seventeen year old from Dartford, who wants to be Muddy Waters--
and there were a lot of us-- in a way, very pathetic, but in another way, very...
heartwarming".