Legendary guitarist Mick Taylor first came to prominence as a member of John
Mayall's Bluesbreakers, the seminal British blues ensemble. The Bluesbreakers
were no strangers to great lead guitarists, having previously featured Eric Clapton in 1965-66 (after the Yardbirds and before Cream), and then Peter Green, who left
to form Fleetwood Mac in 1967. Mick Taylor was with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers for nearly two years - until the call came from Mick Jagger in mid-1969 inviting him to join the Rolling Stones. Mick's debut with the Rolling Stones was at the famed Hyde Park Concert that took place just days after the death of one of the Rolling Stones' founding members, Brian Jones.
Mick Taylor is heard on the classic Rolling Stones' albums Let It Bleed (1969), Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out (recorded live during the 1969 tour, released 1970) Sticky Fingers (1971), Exile On Main Street (1972), Goats Head Soup (1973) and It's Only Rock and Roll (1974). The songs he played lead on include the classics "Brown Sugar","Tumblin' Dice", "Wild Horses", "Angie", "It's Only Rock N' Roll", "Ain't Too Proud To Beg", "Honky Tonk Women", "Can't You Hear Me Knockin'", "Live With Me" and the definitive "Midnight Rambler" from Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!
Since leaving the Rolling Stones in 1974, Mick Taylor has recorded a number of
solo albums and has worked with countless musicians both in the studio, and on tour. Among the most notable is Bob Dylan, with whom Taylor both recorded and toured. His
recording with the Rolling Stones of "Waiting On A Friend" stayed deep in the
vaults until this lost gem was released on Tattoo You; the success of the
single helped propel that album to nine weeks at #1. Taylor's encore track was
the Stones' last major hit.
Mick Taylor has toured often in recent years with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, coming full circle. His contribution to Mayall's 70th birthday concert has received rave reviews since it's 2003 CD and DVD release.
Mick Jagger's comments on Mick Taylor are below.
Rolling Stone, December 14, 1995 "Jagger Remembers"
Discussing the late 60's, early 70's era Rolling Stones:
Jann Wenner: "What about the contribution of Mick Taylor to the band in
those years?"
Mick Jagger: "I think he had a big contribution. He made it very musical. He
was a fluent, melodic player, which we never had before, and we don't have
now. Neither Keith nor Ronnie (Wood) plays that kind of style. It was very good
for me working with him. Charlie and I were talking about this the other day,
because we could sit down - I could sit down - with Mick Taylor, and he would
play very fluid lines against my vocals. He was exciting, he was very pretty,
and it gave me something to follow, to bang off. Some people think that's the
best version of the band that's existed."
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