Mick Taylor

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Lore & Background

Taylor's path to the Stones began on 18 April 1966, when he filled in for an absent Eric Clapton at a Bluesbreakers show in Welwyn Garden City. Though he exited before John Mayall could speak with him, this encounter proved pivotal; Mayall later recruited Taylor via a Melody Maker advert to replace Peter Green. From 1967 to 1969, Taylor developed a blues-based style with Latin and jazz influences on albums like Crusade and Bare Wires. In June 1969, recommended by Mayall and Ian Stewart, he joined the Stones, initially believing it was a session gig before being invited to stay permanently. During their time as UK income tax exiles, Taylor owed the Inland Revenue £22,000 after spending less than a year and a half with the band.

In Their Own Story

On 5 July 1969, at age 20, Taylor made his onstage debut in Hyde Park for a quarter-million people, serving as a tribute to Brian Jones. His tenure saw him overdub guitar on 'Country Honk' and 'Live With Me' for Let It Bleed and the single 'Honky Tonk Women'. Between sessions, he performed Tubular Bells with Mike Oldfield at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in June 1973, invited by Richard Branson. However, tensions rose during the recording of It's Only Rock 'n Roll in Munich; Taylor missed initial sessions due to acute sinusitis surgery. Producer Andy Johns recalled that Keith Richards became abusive, erasing riffs and blocking Taylor from writing songs. Taylor later admitted he fought constantly with Jagger over unfulfilled promises of songwriting credits for tracks like 'Sway' and 'Moonlight Mile'. Despite claiming the split had no personal animosity, he walked out in December 1974 during a party hosted by Eric Clapton, leaving the band before Munich sessions began.

Reader's Guide

Taylor's role was defined by his ability to blend blues roots with Latin and jazz influences, creating complex solos that became signature elements of Stones classics. He appeared on Let It Bleed, Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!, Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main St., Goats Head Soup, and It's Only Rock 'n Roll. His slide guitar skills further developed during this era. Creative frustration eventually led to his departure; he co-wrote 'Till the Next Goodbye' and 'Time Waits for No One' but received no credits on the final sleeve. While Richards claimed Taylor never really wrote things, Taylor insisted that without his contribution, songs like 'Sway' would not have existed. He planned to start a group with Jack Bruce upon leaving. Decades later, in November 2012, he rejoined the band for their 50th-Anniversary shows and the subsequent tour across North America and Europe.

Did You Know?

• Taylor was only 17 when he filled in for Eric Clapton at a Bluesbreakers gig, though he left the stage before Mayall could speak to him.
• During the band's tax exile years, Taylor owed the Inland Revenue £22,000 despite spending less than 18 months with the group.
• Truman Capote described Taylor as 'pretty, a little Jean Harlow blond-type, but dumb, and totally uninteresting' in an unfinished Rolling Stone profile.
• Taylor claimed he co-wrote songs like 'Sway' and 'Moonlight Mile', stating that without his contribution they would not have existed.
• He announced his departure to Mick Jagger at a party hosted by Eric Clapton, shocking the band who were due to start recording in Munich the next day.