The Rolling Stones are among the few bands to have had a career that has spanned over six decades, transforming and creating new sounds while holding tight to their roots in rock and roll. From the blues covers in the 1960s to genre-bending experiments in the 1980s and back to classic rock in the 21st century, their story is one of mastery of music trend-making and a singular ability to change with the times. Well, here’s an overview of their musical evolution through the years:
1960s: Blues Roots and the British Invasion
The Rolling Stones gained prominence in the early 1960s with heavy influences from American blues, rhythm, and rock. The band consisted of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Charlie Watts, and Bill Wyman when it formed, and they played covers of blues and rock artists such as Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, and Howlin’ Wolf. Early singles, such as “Not Fade Away” and “It’s All Over Now,” respectively from 1964, showed how close they had been to blues and R&B. Their first LP, from 1964-just titled The Rolling Stones-and then Out of Our Heads from 1965, including the single “Satisfaction,” set them popular and on the same pedestal as The Beatles as part of the British Invasion.
The Stones started phasing original compositions from merely doing covers of blues numbers. Jagger and Richards started becoming a good songwriting team, as evident from Aftermath, 1966, an album that was totally comprised of original songs from the band. Further, they also integrated more somber themes and social commentary, as found in “Paint It Black” and “Under My Thumb”; this again expanded the realms of rock and defined a new rebelliousness that was to mark their sound for the coming years.
1970s: Experimentation and Expanding Horizons
The 1970s were a period of frenetic musical experimentation by the Stones. Albums such as Beggars Banquet of 1968, Let It Bleed of 1969, and Sticky Fingers of 1971 evinced their trend toward amalgamation of rock with country, gospel, and soul. This period is often thought of as their “Golden Era” with masterpieces like “Sympathy for the Devil,” “Gimme Shelter,” and “Wild Horses,” highlighting a richer and more diverse sound. Adding Mick Taylor to the group on lead guitar from 1969 to 1974 brought musical sophistication through extended solos and complicated arrangements.
With Exile on Main St., 1972, recorded in large part in France, the Stones responded with an uncompromisingly raw, unfinished sound. This double album of rock, blues, and country has captured perfectly the chaotic, hedonistic lifestyle that the band led at the time. Though mixed by most critics at its release, it is now considered one of the great rock albums ever made, capturing the grit and rock ‘n’ roll ethos of the band.
1980s: Commercial Success and Crossing Over Genres
The 1980s also found the Stones trying new sounds as music continued to evolve. When disco, punk, and New Wave were taking over the radio waves, the Stones answered with their take on those genres. Some Girls (1978) found them incorporating disco into songs like “Miss You,” where a funkier, groovier Stones materialized. It became the best-seller for them in the U.S., showing it is okay to reinvent without losing one’s core.
During this decade, internal conflicts between Jagger and Richards mounted. The creative tug-of-war between Jagger’s affair with pop influences and Richards’ affairs for roots rock was rather evident in the albums from 1981, Tattoo You, and Undercover in 1983. However, “Start Me Up” from Tattoo You proved the Stones were still capable of providing straightforward rock anthems. Scarred but surviving, it was a sign of their versatility and mass market appeal as they tried MTV and music video promotion.
1990s: Return to the Roots and Reinvention
Through the 1990s, the Stones worked to return to a type of blues-rock yet, nonetheless, be relevant in changing times within rock. On Voodoo Lounge, their first album without longtime bassist Bill Wyman, in 1994, the Stones proved they were still capable of making effective rock ‘n’ roll music, bringing home a Grammy as Best Rock Album. The album included “Love Is Strong” and “You Got Me Rocking,” which balanced modern production with their classic style.
Their 1997 album, Bridges to Babylon, moved toward more modern tones, with shades of hip-hop and electronic music, but never too far from the Stones’ signature rock grit. Guest appearances by younger producers such as The Dust Brothers suggested an attempt to be relevant, while songs such as “Anybody Seen My Baby?” enjoyed chart success, showing their ability to keep up with current music trends.
2000s and 2010s: Legendary Status and Consistency
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, The Rolling Stones would look more toward nostalgia than innovation, including albums that paid homage to the band’s classic rock legacy. Coming eight years after their last studio work, A Bigger Bang traced a raw rock sound rooted more firmly than usual in their earlier back-to-basics work. Songs such as “Rough Justice” showed undiminished energy from the Stones; indeed, the album itself received critical acclaim for its authenticity and vigor.
Besides releasing albums, the band had been on extensive world tours during this period, breaking all attendance records, further securing them as one of the most successful rock bands of all time. This legendary status of the band was captured by Martin Scorsese in his 2008 Shine a Light documentary that gave great insight to the fans into the immense power of live performances.