The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in April 1962 in London when guitarist and harmonica player Brian Jones and pianist Ian Stewart joined vocalist Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards. Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early lineup. After signing to Decca Records in 1963, the band changed their name from "The Rollin' Stones" to "The Rolling Stones". Band members and others often refer to the band as "The Stones".

In 1963 Jagger and Richards formed a songwriting partnership and eventually took over leadership of the band as Jones became increasingly troubled and erratic. After recording mainly covers of American blues and R&B songs, every studio record since the 1966 album Aftermath has featured mainly Jagger/Richards songs. Mick Taylor replaced Jones shortly before Jones' death in 1969. Stewart was removed from the official lineup in 1963 to continue as the band's road manager and occasional keyboardist until his death in 1985. Taylor quit in 1974, and was replaced in 1975 by Faces guitarist Ronnie Wood, who has remained with the band since. Wyman left in 1992 and was replaced by Darryl Jones, who is not an official band member but has