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If you happen to have heard of one of the biggest bands of all time, perhaps you'd be interested to know that Rolling Stones tickets are available once again for their latest tour. The Rolling Stones are more cultural icons at this point than a band, and their on-stage performances have been legendary for more than 40 years. How many rock and roll bands would still be hip enough to be asked to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl? The answer is one. A look at their amazing time together may explain how they're so beloved today.

Beginnings

The band came together by chance, when friends Mick Jagger and Keith Richards began to spend time with Brian Jones, another aspiring musician. More than just about everything else, the three all liked to live it up, but they soon began to jam together.

They rehearsed for hours on end, and they soon began playing gigs in local clubs in London. It didn't take long for them to be noticed, and they were signed to a record contract with Decca Records. Their blues-driven style was an instant success. Their first six albums climbed into the top 5 in the UK, and they placed equally well on the US charts. A big-time band was born.

Worldwide Popularity

The Rolling Stones were seen in the United States as part of the 'British Invasion' of the early 1960's along with bands like the Beatles. They also became known for their electrifying live performances, and began their still-going tradition of touring heavily, as the band enjoyed playing as much as the audiences loved getting their hands on Rolling Stones tickets.

Over time, the band released over 40 albums, and nearly every one of them went gold or platinum. In all, they have sold an astounding 240 million copies of their albums on several continents, and remain one of the most successful bands of all time.

Struggles

Like many bands of their day, the Rolling Stones also experienced their share of troubles. A source of many of these obstacles was their heavy drug use which enveloped every member of the band at one point to varying degrees.

The first to be stricken was Jones, who descended into a violent cycle of drug and alcohol abuse and was eventually replaced due to the fact that he was too unreliable. Ultimately, in 1969, Jones was found dead at the bottom of his pool surrounded by statues of Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh. It was a loss that hit the band hard, but they persevered and continued to record and tour.

Within a few years, Richards was also terribly addicted to drugs and alcohol, and the addiction he would ultimately fight for years took a heavy toll. He withdrew somewhat from the writing duties that he had shared with Jagger since they began working together, and he also had more than his share of legal troubles as a result of his addiction.

Recovery

Over time though, the members of the band ultimately put their lives together and continued to record and tour at a dizzying rate throughout the 1980's and 1990's. Their influences are numerous, and countless bands credit them with inventing the hard rock genre that's so popular today.

The Rolling Stones are one of the world's treasures, and even as they move into their 60's, Rolling Stones tickets are still a huge draw just about anywhere in the world.