Seth Frank

The Decades-Long Durability Of The Rolling Stones

It has been approximately 50 years since British rock group the Rolling Stones formed. Consistency and the ability to keep relevant are two of the band’s trademarks. On a Rolling Stones vinyl from years ago, we can hear the sound of enthusiastic, hard-hitting rock, and on one of their CD releases from modern times, almost the same zeal. The group still continually tours the globe, and has no trouble selling out its concerts. It is as comparable to a rock institution as possible.

The group came together during the early 1960’s, and rode the wave of popularity of the decade’s British Invasion phenomenon. They ensured that they would be different from other outfits in the movement, though, by boasting a sound heavily laden with blues and R&B. By mid decade, they had moved to a mixture of mainly rock, jazz, and folk. They then delved into psychedelia for one album before reconciling with a more blues-rooted style, but one more strongly mixed with country and pure rock than in years past.

The blues-country-rock hybrid that the Stones developed in the late ‘60’s went on for several albums’ worth of music up to the middle of the ‘70’s. By the last part of that era, though, new styles had gained a following in popular music and the band seemed in danger of becoming inconsequential. With an additional reinvention that entailed them using punk, disco, and reggae in their songs, though, the group was right back in the thick of things.

The band went through turmoil in the mid 1980’s. A rift formed between lead vocalist Mick Jagger and rhythm guitar man Keith Richards, the group’s creative forces, and the two of them produced solo albums. The band did not truly splinter, nevertheless, and the solo efforts ended up only being part of a brief break for them. Their respite from touring which accompanied the solo records finished quickly with the beginning of the extensive series of shows they booked at the moment of their 1989 album Steel Wheels’ appearance on the market. They moved on to produce a trio of studio efforts in the 1990’s and 2000’s. The albums were not big steps forward, but smartly incorporated modern production elements into the band’s coarse sound that fans had come to know and admire.

Old Stones vinyl albums playing on Rega turntables give the illusion that the band, still energetic after all the decades, could have made them just a day before. These Britons have kept their main sonic structures unchanged over the years and in no way sacrificed their uniqueness. The group has totally cemented itself in pop culture and many people continue to be mesmerized by them. The Stones’ amazing durability up to this point seems to signify them never calling it quits or moving out of the public eye.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR