Founder of The Rolling Stones, Brian Jones celebrates a birthday today.
The original leader of the band, Brian founded the Stones in 1962 and gave the band its name. The early success of the Stones came from covers chosen by Jones, as ihs vision of the band was to be a pure blues band, but as time and fame came the band began to evolve into a broader sound that would begin to leave Jones behind. After, the band's initial success, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger began to take over the musical direction, and the two became a successful songwriting team to rival John Lennon & Paul McCartney.
Jones would play on the biggest Stones hits of the early era, helping make them globally known with "Satisfaction", Ruby Tuesday, and "The Last Time". As the Stones popularity boomed, Brian's wanting of a strictly blues oriented sound would go by the waistside. It is around this time that Jones developed alcohol and drug problems, as his performance became unreliable ultimately leading to a more diminished role in the band. His last gasp with the band came with the recording of their classic "Beggars Banquet", as he played on "Jumpin Jack Flash" and "Sympathy For The Devil."
By 1969, the Stones dismissed Jones, and hired Mick Taylor in his place, and less than a month later, Jones died by drowning in his swimming pool. His echoed throughout the world of rock, as it's been referenced in songs by Pete Townshend and poems by Jim Morrison. In 1989, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Rolling Stones, as his legend in the band has been cemented.
Happy Birthday Brian, you gave us one of the greatest Rock & Roll bands of all time!