Who was the Rolling Stones original drummer?

Brian Jones decided to start his own band. To get started, Jones placed an advertisement in Jazz News on May 2, 1962. He invited musicians to audition for a new R&B group. Pianist Ian “Stu” Stewart was the first to respond. Then Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Dick Taylor (bass guitar), and Tony Chapman (drums) joined as well.

According to Richards, Jones named the band while on the phone trying to book a gig. When asked for a band name, Jones glanced down at a Muddy Waters LP, saw one of the tracks named “Rollin’ Stone Blues” and said, “Rollin’ Stones.”

The new band named Rollin’ Stones and led by Jones, played their first performance at the Marquee Club in London on July 12, 1962. The Rollin’ Stones soon secured a residency at the Crawdaddy Club, bringing in younger audiences who were looking for something new and exciting. This new sound had kids standing on the tables, rocking, dancing, and shouting to the sound of electric guitars with a provocative singer.

Bill Wyman (bass guitar, backing vocals) joined in December 1962, replacing Dick Taylor who went back to college. Wyman wasn’t their first choice, but he had an amplifier the band desired. Charlie Watts (drums) joined the following January, replacing Tony Chapman who left for another band.

More Info: history1900s.about.com

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31 Comments

Malcolm Rosenberg

Met Charlie at a gig in 1963, so Chapman can't have been with them very long

tyafter

I'm glad someone posted an introspective, factual question relating some of the facts concerning the Stones. Their longevity is remarkable, their character/integrity always suspect, and their "eventual" talent appreciated by the millions of fans they've earned over 60 years. And they had that "blues" feeling, which is what I wanted. And Charlie was THE MAN!

JRW

Malcolm Rosenberg, correct. He wasn't there for long. I wonder what the other band was. And what became of it.

elizawheeler

I was never a fan of the Rolling Stones. Mick Jagger is just not that talented.

Nickoi Ciciarelli

marilynroman, I think he did

marilynroman

Am I mistaken or didn't Brian Jones later drown in a swimming pool?

Chris Brown

I believe it was Charlie Watts. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically driven sound that came to define hard rock. Their first stable line-up consisted of vocalist Mick Jagger, multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones, guitarist Keith Richards, bassist Bill Wyman, and drummer Charlie Watts.

Patricia Goulding Krejci

39k responses and the majority steered me wrong.

Ray Anderson

According to Keith's biography (Life), the drummer that night was Mick Avory, not Tony Chapman.

Char

Char, I chose Watts I see now why I made the error

Char

Had not s clue so I blew that one

Robbie Furlong

The most famous drummer was Carlo Little I worked with him and he told me stories. He is mentioned in Keith Richards book and was invited by them to a concert in Paris. Look him up.