July 12, 1962

July 12, 2014, marks the 52nd anniversary of the Rolling Stones’ first gig making them, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the record holders for rock-band longevity.

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The first settled line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Ian Stewart (piano), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar), Bill Wyman (bass) and Charlie Watts (drums). Jones left the band less than a month prior to his death in 1969, having already been replaced by Mick Taylor, who left in 1975. Since then Ronnie Wood has been on guitar in tandem with Richards. Following Wyman's departure in 1993, Darryl Jones has been the main bassist. Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued as occasional pianist until his death in 1985. Other notable keyboardists for the band have included Nicky Hopkins, active from 1967 to 1982; Billy Preston through the mid 1970s (most prominent on Black and Blue); and Chuck Leavell, active since 1982. The band was first led by Jones, but after teaming as the band's songwriters, Jagger and Richards assumed de facto leadership.

 

Jagger, Richards and Jones with Stewart and Dick Taylor on bass billed as "the Rollin' Stones" played their first gig on 12 July 1962, at the Marquee Club. The band borrowed money from Jagger's dad to rent equipment for the gig. Their material included the Chicago blues as well as Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley songs.

Here is what the Stones played on that night in 1962, according to meticulous, setlist-documenting Stones fansite.

1. "Kansas City"

2. "Baby What's Wrong"

3. "Confessin' the Blues"

4. "Bright Lights, Big City" 

5. "Dust My Broom" 

6. "Down the Road Apiece" 

7. "I'm a Love You"

8. "Bad Boy"

9. "I Ain't Got You"

10. "Hush-Hush"

11. "Ride 'Em on Down"

12. "Back in the U.S.A."

13. "Kind of Lonesome"

14. "Blues Before Sunrise"

15. "Big Boss Man"

16. "Don't Stay Out All Night"

17. "Tell Me You Love Me"

18. "Happy Home"

So the band debuted as the Rollin' Stones at the Marquee Club on July 12th, 1962. The lineup was Mick Jagger (vocals), Brian Jones (guitar), Keith Richards (guitar), Ian Stewart (piano), Dick Taylor (bass) and Tony Chapman (drums.)

Bassist Bill Wyman joined in December 1962 and drummer Charlie Watts the following January 1963 to form the band's long-standing rhythm section. The Rolling Stones' then acting manager Giorgio Gomelsky secured a Sunday afternoon residency at the Crawdaddy Club, which, Gomelsky said, triggered an "international renaissance for the blues" and was a seminal facet of Swinging London's advent.

In the mid-1960s the Crawdaddy Club was purchased by a young local musician and promoter John Benedict McCoy and his partner Ken Crawford. John McCoy had already proved himself well enough in promoting many accomplished young bands on 'the rise up' as early as 1963. Even booking the Rolling Stones for £65 ($90) and The Hollies at his previous club-venue The Outlook in Middlesbrough. On Saturday 13 July 1963 both The Hollies and The Rolling Stones appeared on the same bill at The Outlook, In fact this was the Rolling Stones first booking outside of Greater London, and this one-off gig was actually 'brokered' as a favour through John McCoys friend, blues-singer Long John Baldry. In Bill Wyman's book "Rolling with the Stones" (a detailed journal of his time with the band) he is adamant that this booking was at a Middlesbrough club called the Alcove. However, there never was a Middlesbrough club of that name. John McCoy’s explanation for this is that he wrote Alcove on the Rolling Stones contract (signed by McCoy and Brian Jones) to give the basement-club a separate identity from the 'Young Outlook' fashion store above it!  An advertisement for this double booking at the "The Outlook" appeared in the Evening Gazette the previous night.

The band continued to play around London clubs that summer. In August, Jagger, Richards and Jones moved into a grimy second-floor apartment at 102 Edith Grove in Fulham, living amongst dirty dishes, two beds and no furniture. Soon, Charlie Watts moved in. "The Rolling Stones spent the first year of their life hanging places, stealing food and rehearsing," Richards remembered. "We were paying to be the Rolling Stones."