The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones (guitars, harmonica), Ian Stewart (piano), Mick Jagger (vocals, harmonica) and Keith Richards (guitars). Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early lineup. The Rolling Stones raised the international regard for the primitive blues typified by Chess Records’ artists such as Muddy Waters, who wrote the song Rollin’ Stone after which the band is named.
American R&B and blues cover songs dominated the Rolling Stones’ early material, but their repertoire has always included rock and roll. Critic and musicologist Robert Palmer said the Rolling Stones have endured and stayed relevant by remaining “rooted in traditional verities, in rhythm-and-blues and soul music”, while “more ephemeral pop fashions have come and gone”.
In 2008, Billboard magazine ranked the Rolling Stones at number ten on “The Billboard Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists”, and as the second most successful group in the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
