The Rolling Stones are an English rock band. The band formed in 1962 in London. The group played their first formal gig on 12 July 1962 at the Marquee Club, billed as "The Rollin' Stones". The line-up was Jagger, Richards, Jones, and Stewart on piano, Taylor on bass and Tony Chapman on drums. Jones intended for the band to play primarily Chicago blues, but Jagger and Richards brought the rock & roll of Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley to the band.

The band's second UK LP - The Rolling Stones No. 2, released in January 1965 - was another #1 on the album charts; the US version, released in February as The Rolling Stones, Now!, went to #5. Most of the material had been recorded at Chess Studios in Chicago and RCA Studios in Los Angeles. In January/February 1965 the band also toured Australia and New Zealand for the first time, playing 34 shows for about 100,000 fans. The Stones released Undercover in late 1983. Despite good reviews the record sold below expectations and there was no tour to support it.

Charlie Watts released two jazz albums; Ronnie Wood made his fifth solo album, the first in 11 years, called Slide On This; Keith Richards released his second solo album in late 1992, Main Offender and did a small tour including big concerts in Spain and Argentina. Mick Jagger got good reviews and sales with his third solo album, Wandering Spirit. The album sold more than two million copies worldwide, going gold in the US.

In late 2001, Mick Jagger released his solo album, Goddess in the Doorway which met with mixed reviews. Jagger and Richards took part in "The Concert for New York City", performing "Salt of the Earth" and "Miss You" with a backing band.

On 24 March 2007, the band announced a tour of Europe called the "Bigger Bang 2007" tour. 12 June 2007 saw the release of the band's second four-disc DVD set: The Biggest Bang, a seven-hour document featuring their shows in Austin, Rio de Janeiro, Saitama, Shanghai and Buenos Aires, along with extras.

In July 2008 it was announced that the Rolling Stones will be leaving EMI and joining Vivendi's Universal Music, taking with them their entire catalogue stretching back to Sticky Fingers. All new music by the band will be released through Universal's Polydor label.