Bob Spitz proves the Rolling Stones are rock's greatest band in magnificent new biography

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By early 1963, the Station Hotel in London had become an epicenter of the burgeoning British blues scene.On a blustery, snowy night that February, the Rolling Stones’ classic early lineup took the stage for one of the first times, dazzling the audience with ferocious renditions of blues standards like Muddy Waters’ “I Want to Be Loved” and Jimmy Reed’s “Bright Lights, Big City.”Multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones, the band’s founder and leader, synchronized guitars with Keith Richards, who favored a distinctive slashing and stinging style.

Drummer Charlie Watts, the group’s newest member, a jazz aficionado and an accomplished percussionist, propelled the music forward with a rock-solid beat.Anchoring the rhythm section with him was bassist Bill Wyman, who was recruited more for his spare VOX AC30 amp that the guitarists could plug into than for his musical skills.The stoic bassist proved a strong and innovative player.

Together, he and Watts would go on to form one of rock’s most decorated rhythm sections.Ian Stewart’s energetic boogie-woogie piano style rounded out the sound.Months later, manager Andrew Loog Oldham kicked him out of the band for being “ugly,” although Stewart continued to record, tour and serve as the band’s road manager until his death in 1985.Fronting the group was Mick Jagger.

Channeling the music like a crazed shaman, Jagger shimmied and sashayed, owning the stage like few lead singers have before or since.By the end of the night, the Stones had the crowd in a frenzy.

Although only 30 people had made it to the gig because of the treacherous weather conditions, the hotel’s booker had seen enough: He offered the Stones a regular gig.“The Rolling Stones had caught fire.The music they were playing and the way they played it struck a chord with a young crowd starved for something different, something their own… It was soul-stir...