Why have I been having a “renegade week” in the playlist, and why was it inspired by something that’s happening today? Because not many bands last for 50 years, and it was 50 years ago today that Mick Jagger played his first show with The Rolling Stones, the original rock-and-roll “renegades.”
English: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in 1972 tour at Winterland in San Francisco, in June (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Now, 50 years later, they’re still going strong despite “what a drag it is getting old” and there are rumblings about a 50th anniversary tour at some point.
But, today, it’s a celebration of 50 years since Jagger took the stage at London’s Marquee Club with guitarists Keith Richards and Brian Jones, bassist Dick Taylor, keyboard player Ian Stewart, and drummer Mick Avory, and they rocked the house.
Of course, there’ve been a few changes to the band since then — guys like Mick Taylor and Ronnie Wood coming in to play the guitar after Jones passed away, Bill Wyman taking over on bass for so many years, and Charlie Watts has been laying down one of the steadiest drum beats known to mankind since 1963.
Man, it’s a simple wonder that Richards himself has even lasted this long. But, without Richards, where would Johnny Depp have gotten his inspiration for “Jack Sparrow” in “Pirates of the Caribbean?”
Renegades = pirates = Jack Sparrow = Keith Richards = The Rolling Stones = the first “street fighting band” to make it not just “big” but “HUGE .” The first “bad boys” of rock, and we’re still paying attention to them 50 years later.
How many other bands can say that?
Rolling Stones hint at tour ahead of 50th anniversary celebration
Related articles
- 50 Years (huffingtonpost.com)
- Keith Richards – Keith Richards: Rolling Stones Are Rehearsing (contactmusic.com)
- Rolling Stones reunite for their golden anniversary at Marquee Club (thesun.co.uk)
- UK News: Stones mark 50th anniversary of gig (walesonline.co.uk)
- The Rolling Stones – 50 years on and not fading away (standard.co.uk)
- 50 Years Ago Today, the Rolling Stones Played Their First Gig (rollingstone.com)
- Rolling Stones Gather at Site of First Gig (rollingstone.com)
Yeah, the Stones are pretty good. That Muddy Waters one was a special treat.
Thanks. Yeah, I had to finish with that Muddy Waters appearance. I’ve loved that version of that song for years, and having him in on it … special indeed.