Brian Jones, the founder of The Rolling Stones, died 50 years ago today (July 3.)
A talented multi-instrumentalist and lover of the blues, Jones founded the band in 1962, and it was his passion for blues music that initially shaped the Stones’ sound. However, as the band gained more and more popularity, Jones’ issues with drugs and alcohol escalated and tragically passed away at the age of 27.
In honor of his life, scroll through the classic images of Jones and the Stones below.
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareBritish rock band The Rolling Stones at the Kensington Gore Hotel, where they staged a mock-medieval banquet for the launch of their new album 'Beggars Banquet', London, 5th December 1968; (L-R) Brian Jones (1942 - 1969), Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareEnglish guitarist Brian Jones (1942 - 1969) of the Rolling Stones, circa 1965. (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareEnglish musician Brian Jones (1942 - 1969) of The Rolling Stones, UK, 30th September 1968. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareBritish band 'The Rolling Stones'; (L-R) Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman and Brian Jones, pictured on their arrival at London Airport following a European tour, England, April 6th 1966. (Photo by Ted West/Central Press/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
SharePortrait of the band 'The Rolling Stones'; (clockwise from top) Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Ian Stewart, circa 1963. (Photo by Archive Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareThe Rolling Stones perform in a TV studio to promote their latest single 'The Last Time', 1965. Left to right: Brian Jones (1942 - 1969), Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. A large picture of British pop group The Animals can be seen in the background. (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareThe Rolling Stones arriving at Oslo Airport, 25th June 1965. From left to right, Brian Jones, Keith Richards (obscured), Mick Jagger and Bill Wyman.(Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareRolling Stones Brian Jones, Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts on the beach in Australia, 1965. (Photo by Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareBrian Jones playing his guitar during an early Rolling Stones session, circa 1963. (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareThe Rolling Stones in West Ham to make a court appearance after an incident at an all night garage in East London, 22nd July 1965. Three of the group have been summoned to appear, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones and Bill Wyman, while the other two are also involved. (Photo by Ted West/Central Press/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareGuitarist Brian Jones laughing with Mick Jagger and Bill Wyman during an early Rolling Stones tour, December 1963. (Photo by Chris Ware/Keystone Features/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareRock group The Rolling Stones throwing food in the Elizabethan room at the Kensington Gore hotel, where they hosted a banquet for the launch of their 'Beggars Banquet' album, 5th December 1968. From left to right, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman and Brian Jones, aiming a pie. (Photo by Larry Ellis/Express/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
Share17th January 1964: British pop group The Rolling Stones in London. From left to right, Brian Jones (1942 - 1969), Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman. (Photo by Terry Disney/Express/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
Share29th July 1968: Brian Jones (1942 - 1969, left) and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones jamming a tune in a recording studio, which evolved into the song 'Sympathy For The Devil', as captured by French film director Jean-Luc Godard in his film 'One Plus One', also titled 'Sympathy for the Devil'. (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
Share11th January 1967: British pop group The Rolling Stones in Green Park, London, shortly before flying to the States to perform on the 'Ed Sulivan Show', one of the most popular entertainment shows on American television. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
Share29th January 1968: American soul singer Diana Ross talks to Rolling Stones bad boy Brian Jones during an aftershow party hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Bedford to celebrate The Supremes performance on Sunday Night At the Palladium. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
Share11th January 1967: The Rolling Stones walking in London's Green Park prior to their visit to the United States to appear on the Ed Sullivan show. They are, from left to right; Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, Keith Richards and Brian Jones (1944 - 1969). (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareJanuary 1967: The Rolling Stones take a stroll in a London park. Left to right: Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, Keith Richards and Brian Jones. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareJanuary 1965: Rolling Stones (left to right), Keith Richards, Brian Jones and Bill Wyman backstage before a concert. Jones is reading a fanzine dedicated to the group. (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
Share1964: British rock group the Rolling Stones, comprising drummer Charlie Watts, frontman Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Brian Jones and bassist Bill Wyman. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareBrian Jones (1942 - 1969) and Mick Jagger of the British rock group The Rolling Stones, enjoying a food fight at the Kensington Gore Hotel, where the band staged a mock-medieval banquet for the launch of their new album 'Beggars Banquet', while the band's drummer, Charlie Watts (left) looks on, 5th December 1968. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareBritish rock group The Rolling Stones, Brian Jones (1942 - 1969), Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts at the Kensington Gore Hotel, where they staged a mock-medieval banquet for the launch of their new album 'Beggars Banquet', 5th December 1968. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
Share17th January 1964: British rock group the Rolling Stones, (from left) Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones and Bill Wyman, outside St George's Church, Hanover Square, London. (Photo by Terry Disney/Express/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
Share19-year-old actress Anita Pallenberg with Brian Jones (1942 - 1969), guitarist and founder member of the Rolling Stones pop band. She has just flown in from Munich to Heathrow airport amid rumours that she is to marry Brian. (Photo by J Wilds/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareBritish rock group The Rolling Stones in New York. From left to right: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Brian Jones (1942 - 1969), and Bill Wyman. (Photo by William Lovelace/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareBrian Jones (1942 - 1969) of the group The Rolling Stones playing a harmonica with one hand and clutching a guitar in his other. (Photo by Chris Ware/Getty Images)
Remembering Brian Jones
ShareThe British rock group The Rolling Stones poses beneath a sign for Greenwich and Tower Bridge Streets in London, England, circa 1963. L-R: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones (1942 - 1969), Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
