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Obviously he was a perfect choice but at the time, why was he chosen?
Consider that the guy he was replacing, Brian, was a gifted multi-instrumentalist, and on guitar was a player similar to Keith but better on slide guitar....Why did they choose a guy who was a blues lead guitar virtuoso, who played in a style so utterly different from both Keith's and anything the Stones had done? The whole concept of lead guitarist vs. rhythm guitarist was alien to the Stones up till then....

I mean obviously it worked out great, it was the best period for the Stones, I wish he'd stayed in the band, but on paper, in 1969 the idea of a "lead guitarist, blues virtuoso, ala Clapton, Santana etc to join Rolling Stones", it sounds odd. On paper, it doesn't sound like a fit, considering their material up to 1969. It'd be like having John Bonham join a jazz band, on paper.

A Mayall protege, very talented, and also very young so he was probably cheap pickings at the time. :wow

Edith Grove wrote on Jul 18^th, 2012 at 2:47pm:

A Mayall protege, very talented, and also very young so he was probably cheap pickings at the time. :wow

That's right, I read so many articles with Mick talking about this in the days when it happened "he came through the school of John Mayall, etc, etc, besides The Stones started out as a blues band, it was only because The Beatles were turning every band to write their own songs & play Rock & Roll, sure The Stones covered Chuck Berry, etc but all their early albums is mostly Chicago/Delta Blues.

Back in 2001 I asked Mick Taylor before one of the two interviews I conducted "Mick the first interview is for the TV, so it's gonna be short, I'm gonna ask you about your band and what are you playing, this is not an interview for fans but the general public, we have a chance for a third question, do you have a suggestion? Not sure if asking you again ‘Why did you quit the band’ is a good idea..." he answered me... “No, better ask me how I joined the band"

I have the interview recorded in awful sound quality, inaudible, the original is a mini cassette tape… but to make the long story short when John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers returned from the 1968 tour of the US John decided to disband The Bluesbreakers and said goodbye to Mick, the stones were looking for a good guitar player and John and some others recommended Mick Taylor to the Stones.

It’s very interesting to note that John wrote this sentence in his “Blues From Laurel Canyon” album

“I doubt if there could be a better choice than Mick Taylor who really shows his brilliance on this new album. He has worked with me longer than any other guitarist I’ve had and I hope that we’ll continue as a team fir a long time to come”
(John Mayall 3rd September 1968)

Previous guitarists with John Mayall included Sammy Prosser, Bernie Watson , Roger Dean, Eric Clapton, and Peter Green. Mick Taylor was only 19 years old.

Some pix from that interview, first repost since August 30, 2001!!!

Why did they choose Mick Taylor?

Well, when he quit, Mick Jagger said "No doubt I can find another brilliant 6-ft blonde guitarist who can do his own makeup." So I'm guessing it was MT's skill with make-up that sealed the deal.

:wow :smilemick :wow :smilemick :wow

At the time most of the top bands had lead players who could solo and really stand out more so then the traditional rythm sounds. Taylor was the perfect foil for Keith and let Keith do what he did best....drive the band with Charlie and Bill...the engine so to speak.

looks, talent, age and no threat to the balance of the new version of the band...
perfect timing for everyone too...

gimmekeef wrote on Jul 27^th, 2012 at 12:41pm:

I always thought this was a main consideration, along with Mick's experience with John Mayall.

FPM wrote on Jul 27^th, 2012 at 12:29pm:

Well, Mick could be very nasty sometimes in those days. Everytime I hear him say to Mick Taylor "play the guitar BOY" I think, what an asshole you were sometimes Jagger.

People tend to forget what a dynamite rhythm player Mick Taylor was and is. It is all focused on his lead lines but his rhythm playing is out of this world.

Different topic but I found it interesting that in a recent interview he referred to John Mayall as overrated or words to that effect.

Thanks Voodoo for the pictures, to bad the audio didn't work out, I also like Mick T.'s albums with John Mayall, Blues from Laura Canyon is outstanding & Crusade (especially Oh Pretty Woman) is another, he was the perfect choice for the Stones, just look at the albums that were made with him, some of the best ever.

Not sure why but damn sure glad they did! :smilemick

perhaps Clapton n Peter Green were not free ;)

ROCKS OFF - The Rolling Stones Message Board
http://rocksoff.org/cgi-bin/messageboard/YaBB.pl GENERAL >> MAIN BOARD >> Why did the Stones choose Mick Taylor? http://rocksoff.org/cgi-bin/messageboard/YaBB.pl?num=1342640598 Message started by StonesFan1990 on Jul 18^th, 2012 at 2:43pm