The Rolling Stones in their early days. Tony Chapman is not pictured
You don’t earn the title of “World’s Greatest Rock Band” by playing it safe. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame bestowed this superlative upon the Rolling Stones for their enduring popularity and ability to adapt a variety of musical styles into their unique brand of rock ‘n roll.
Unfortunately, Tony Chapman couldn’t foresee the fruits of this labor when he was part of the group in the early ’60’s. He introduced longtime ‘Stone Bill Wyman to the group and was part of the six-member lineup that existed when Brian Jones named the band in June 1962.
Chapman soon disagreed with their experimental approach and left in 1962, before the band made any official recordings. After his exit, Chapman formed a more traditional band, The Preachers, and later played the drums for The Herd, both featuring Peter Frampton.
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The Rolling Stones rolled on without Chapman to record-breaking success less than two years after he left.
Brian Jones stuck around a bit longer and, impressively, left deeper footprints than simply naming the band. He played the marimba in “Under My Thumb” and the sitar in “Paint it Black,” instruments which deepened the songs’ aural experience. He also was instrumental in promoting and organizing the band. By 1967, according to the Rolling Stones’ website, Jones was unhappy with what the band had become and felt estranged from the band he had helped to form. He left amid drug arrests that year and drowned to his death two years later.