“Rollin’ Stone”  is a blues song recorded by Muddy Waters in 1950.  It is his interpretation of “Catfish Blues”, a Delta blues that dates back to 1920s Mississippi.  Although it did not appear in the national record charts, “Still a Fool”, recorded by Muddy Waters a year later using the same arrangement and melody, reached number nine on the Billboard R&B chart.  “Rollin’ Stone” has been recorded by a variety of artists, and both Rolling Stone magazine and the rock group The Rolling Stones are named after the song.  (More from Wikipedia)

 

The first performance by what was then called the Rollin’ Stones – named after the landmark blues song “Rollin’ Stone” by Muddy Waters – took place on July 12, 1962 at the Marquee Club in London.  The line-up at that time was Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar), Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Ian Stewart (piano), Dick Taylor (bass), and Mick Avory (drums – Avory himself recalls that it was actually Tony Chapman).  Mick Jagger and Keith Richards had known each other as children and were reacquainted by Dick Taylor, who was a mutual friend.  Bill Wyman replaced Dick Taylor on bass in December 1962; Taylor then became one of the founding members of the Pretty Things, a band that is as long-lived and (in some circles) as beloved as the Stones, though with a significantly lower profile.  When Charlie Watts joined the band on drums in January 1963, and with Ian Stewart removed from the official band membership (also in 1963), the classic line-up of the Rolling Stones was born. 

(January 2015/2)