Marianne Faithfull (1946–2025), As Tears Go By singer

Marianne Faithfull was a singer and actress who became a pop icon in the 1960s thanks to a string of successful singles and movies, as well as a romance with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.

John Mayall (1933–2024), godfather of British blues

John Mayall was a British blues guitarist and bandleader who helped launch the careers of legends like Eric Clapton, , and Mick Taylor.

John Regan (1951–2023), bassist for Peter Frampton

John Regan was a bass player who recorded and toured alongside Peter Frampton, Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones, and Ace Frehley.

David Dalton (1942–2022), Rolling Stone writer  

David Dalton was a prominent writer for Rolling Stone magazine who wrote biographies of Janis Joplin, Andy Warhol, and Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols.

Sarah Dash (1945–2021), singer who co-founded Labelle

Sarah Dash was a singer who was a founding member of Labelle, best known for their 1974 hit “Lady Marmalade.”

Charlie Watts (1941–2021), Rolling Stones drummer

Charlie Watts was the legendary drummer for the Rolling Stones who was considered to be one of rock's greatest drummers.

Who Influenced the Rolling Stones?

The Rolling Stones have reached their 70s yet they keep touring in front of sold out crowds around the world. Moving past the days of all night parties fueled by drugs and drink, the band members keep themselves in shape for the long rocking sets they perform live. When the band started out, they could have been called a Chicago Blues tribute band. Brian Jones (1942 - 1969), Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards were greatly influenced by the electric blues musicians from Chicago. Music from blues legends like Muddy Waters and Jimmy Rogers were intertwined with the young British band's music. Brian Jones named the band after the Muddy Waters song "Rollin' Stone." Many of the Stones' early songs were blues covers. Keith Richards said, "When we started the Rolling Stones, we were just little kids, right? We felt we had some of the licks down, but our aim was to turn other people on to Muddy Waters." The Stones were also influenced by non-blues musicians such as Buddy Holly and James Brown and mixed them with the blues to make some of the best rock records of all time in the 1960s and 1970s. On what would have been Brian Jones' 75th birthday, we take a look at blues artists who have influenced the Rolling Stones.

The Summer Rock Went Dark

Fifty years ago, the sunny optimism of the Summer of Love yielded to a darker season—the Summer of '68.

Glenn Snoddy (1922–2018), invented the fuzz pedal

Keith Richards famously used the pedal on "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."

Paul Buckmaster (1946–2017), legendary arranger worked with David Bowie and Elton John

His arrangements accompanied rock classics such as “Space Oddity”…

Anita Pallenberg (1944 - 2017), model and muse of the Rolling Stones

Model, actress was an ex-partner of Keith Richards...

Leon Russell (1942 - 2016), legendary rock musician and songwriter

The legendary rock musician and songwriter died Nov. 13, 2016, at his home in suburban Nashville, Tennessee.

Allen Toussaint (1938–2015), new Orleans musician and songwriter

Legendary New Orleans musician, songwriter and producer.

The Best of Muddy Waters

One hundred years of Muddy Waters — that's what we're celebrating today. Waters was born April 4, 1913, and his blues legacy is as deep and wide as the river his name evokes.

The Sixth Rolling Stone

There have been plenty of "Fifth Beatles," but only one person has ever had the honor of being the "Sixth Stone." That was Ian Stewart.

Brian Jones, Guitarist (And More)

Rolling Stones founding member Brian Jones contributed unique instrumentation that helped the band's sound grow and evolve.

Jane Scott, 92, one of America’s first and longest-working rock music critics

Jane Scott became the first rock ‘n’ roll reporter in Cleveland, Ohio, after covering The Beatles’ first visit to Northeast Ohio in 1964.