Mick Taylor

Born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, Mick Taylor is best known as a former guitarist and contributing member of the Rolling Stones. He is widely considered to be the Rolling Stones best guitarist, playing on albums such as: “Exile on Main Street,” “Let it Bleed” and “Sticky Fingers.” Before joining the Stones in 1969, Taylor played guitar with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. Legend has it, Taylor was in the audience the night of a 1966 John Mayall show in his hometown when Eric Clapton failed to show up. Studying guitar since the age of nine and playing in a few local acts, Taylor had confidence in his skill and offered to play with Mayall that night as a sub for Clapton. Mayall was impressed, but before he could talk to Taylor of the possibility of joining the group, Taylor had left the club. A year later, Mayall tracked down Taylor through an ad in a local music paper and offered him the gig- Taylor accepted. This is what would eventually lead Taylor to playing with the Rolling Stones.Two years later, the Rolling Stones couldn’t ignore problems with, then, guitarist Brian Jones. They were on the search for a replacement at the same time Taylor was growing restless and looking for a new group. The Stones inquired on Taylor’s availability and brought him into the studio. Taylor thought he was being asked to do some session work, but after a few tracks realized he was auditioning as a new guitarist for the band. Impressing Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the deal was sealed and Mick Taylor was the new guitarist for the Rolling Stones. Taylor managed to play on a few tracks on “Let It Bleed” which was just being completed at the time. The guitar duo of Taylor and Keith Richards quickly became one of rock’s best. During his time with the Stones, Taylor played on the albums: “Exile on Main Street,” “Sticky Fingers,” the single “Honky Tonk Woman,” “Goats Head Soup” and “It’s Only Rock N’ Roll.” After spending five years with the Stones and once again growing restless, Taylor shocked the world by leaving the group in 1975 and immediately joined The Jack Bruce Band. Then, finally, in 1979 Taylor launched his solo career, signing a record deal with CBS Records and releasing his first solo album, self-titled “Mick Taylor.” Taylor’s style on this album was a mix of rock, jazz and latin-flavoured blues. He spent the early ‘80s touring with artists such as: Alvin Lee, Bob Dylan and even re-united with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. To date, Taylor has released six solo albums, the most recent recorded in 2000 and titled “A Stone’s Throw Away.” In a way this album was a tribute to his time as a member of The Rolling Stones, while also recognizing his current role as a solo musician.