Part Six: Reinvention and Survival (1974–1981) | Ronnie Wood, Punk Rock, Some Girls and the Return to the Top
Rock's Greatest Survivors
By the mid-1970s, The Rolling Stones had already enjoyed a career that most bands could only dream of.
They had sold millions of records, conquered America, survived tragedy, weathered changing musical fashions and released some of the greatest albums ever recorded.
Yet rock music was changing once again.
New artists were emerging.
Progressive rock dominated stadiums.
Disco filled dance floors.
Within a few years, Punk Rock would explode across Britain.
Many critics predicted that The Rolling Stones, now veterans of more than a decade, would become yesterday's news.
Instead, they reinvented themselves once again.
Mick Taylor Leaves the Band
Following the recording of It's Only Rock 'n Roll, guitarist Mick Taylor shocked fans by announcing his departure in December 1974.
Taylor had spent five extraordinary years with the band, contributing stunning guitar work to albums including:
Let It Bleed (final overdubs)
Sticky Fingers
Exile on Main St.
Goats Head Soup
It's Only Rock 'n Roll
His lyrical solos and blues-inspired style had elevated many of the Stones' greatest recordings.
However, Taylor later explained that he wanted greater creative recognition and hoped to pursue a solo career.
Although respected by fans and critics alike, he would forever remain the shortest-serving guitarist of the band's classic eras.
His departure left enormous shoes to fill.
Ronnie Wood Joins The Rolling Stones
The obvious replacement arrived in the form of Ronnie Wood.
Already famous through his work with Faces alongside Rod Stewart and previously with The Jeff Beck Group, Wood had been friends with Keith Richards for years.
Initially joining as a touring musician in 1975 before becoming a full member in 1976, Ronnie brought a completely different style.
Where Mick Taylor had been technically brilliant, Ronnie excelled in spontaneity.
His chemistry with Keith Richards became known as "the ancient art of weaving"—two guitarists constantly exchanging rhythm and lead parts rather than following fixed roles.
The partnership became one of the defining sounds of modern Rolling Stones concerts.
More importantly, Ronnie's easy-going personality helped restore harmony within the group.
Nearly fifty years later, he remains an integral part of the band.
It's Only Rock 'n Roll (1974)
Released shortly before Taylor's departure, It's Only Rock 'n Roll reached Number One in the UK and Number Two in America.
Its title track became one of the band's signature songs.
The famous chorus—
"It's only rock 'n roll (but I like it)"
—perfectly captured the band's attitude towards critics who continually questioned their longevity.
Other highlights included:
Time Waits for No One
Dance Little Sister
If You Really Want to Be My Friend
Although sometimes overshadowed by earlier masterpieces, the album marked an important bridge between two eras.
Black and Blue (1976)
Rather than immediately appointing a permanent guitarist, The Rolling Stones used the recording of Black and Blue as an extended audition.
Several outstanding musicians participated in the sessions, including:
Harvey Mandel
Wayne Perkins
Ronnie Wood
Ultimately, Ronnie proved the perfect fit.
The album reflected the band's growing interest in reggae, funk and dance rhythms while retaining their unmistakable rock identity.
Standout tracks included:
Fool to Cry
Memory Motel
Hot Stuff
Punk Rock Arrives
In 1976 Britain experienced another musical revolution.
Bands such as The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned and The Jam rejected the perceived excesses of stadium rock.
Many journalists declared Punk would sweep away older acts such as The Rolling Stones.
Ironically, several leading punk musicians openly admired the Stones.
Joe Strummer praised their early recordings.
Steve Jones frequently cited Keith Richards as one of his favourite guitarists.
The raw simplicity of the Stones' early rhythm and blues records had, in many ways, laid the foundations for Punk itself.
Rather than competing with Punk, The Rolling Stones embraced the renewed energy it brought to rock music.
Keith Richards Faces Prison
One of the most dramatic moments in the band's history occurred in 1977.
While recording in Canada, Keith Richards was arrested after heroin was discovered in his hotel suite in Toronto.
Initially, the charge carried the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence.
The case attracted worldwide media attention.
Ultimately, after extensive legal proceedings, Richards received a suspended sentence, probation and an order to perform a benefit concert for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
Many historians believe the outcome saved not only Keith's career but possibly the future of The Rolling Stones.
Following the trial, Richards significantly reduced his drug use and refocused on music.
Some Girls (1978): The Greatest Comeback
If anyone doubted The Rolling Stones could compete with Punk and New Wave, Some Girls provided the perfect answer.
Released in June 1978, it became their biggest-selling studio album in the United States.
The record brilliantly absorbed contemporary influences without ever sounding fashionable for fashion's sake.
Instead, it remained unmistakably Rolling Stones.
Classic songs included:
Miss You
Beast of Burden
Shattered
Respectable
Far Away Eyes
Before They Make Me Run
Miss You, driven by Bill Wyman's bass and Charlie Watts' groove, embraced elements of disco while retaining Keith Richards' unmistakable guitar work.
The result became one of the band's biggest international hits.
Meanwhile, Shattered offered a vivid portrait of New York City's chaotic energy.
Many critics regard Some Girls as the finest Rolling Stones album since Exile on Main St.
Emotional Rescue and Tattoo You
The success continued into the next decade.
Emotional Rescue (1980) reached Number One in Britain.
Its title track demonstrated that the band remained willing to experiment while songs like She's So Cold became fan favourites.
The following year came what many consider their last universally acclaimed classic album of the era:
Tattoo You (1981)
Although assembled largely from previously unreleased recordings, producer Chris Kimsey carefully shaped the material into a remarkably cohesive album.
The result exceeded everyone's expectations.
Start Me Up: Another Stadium Anthem
Originally developed during the Black and Blue sessions, Start Me Up evolved over several years before finally being completed for Tattoo You.
Released in August 1981, it became one of the band's most recognisable songs.
Keith Richards' infectious opening riff, Charlie Watts' driving rhythm and Mick Jagger's energetic vocal combined to create a timeless rock anthem.
Today it remains one of the most frequently played songs at sporting events, concerts and celebrations around the world.
Alongside tracks such as Brown Sugar, Jumpin' Jack Flash and Satisfaction, it helped define The Rolling Stones' legendary live shows.
The 1981 American Tour
Supporting Tattoo You, The Rolling Stones embarked on one of the biggest tours in rock history.
The concerts featured:
Giant stages
Elaborate lighting
Record-breaking audiences
Innovative video screens
Massive commercial success
The accompanying concert film Let's Spend the Night Together captured the extraordinary energy of the performances and introduced a new generation of fans to the world's greatest live rock band.
By now, The Rolling Stones had become more than musicians.
They were a global institution.
A Band That Refused to Stand Still
Between 1974 and 1981, The Rolling Stones achieved something remarkably few artists manage.
Instead of becoming a nostalgic act, they adapted to changing musical trends while remaining true to their roots.
They embraced funk, reggae and disco without losing their identity.
They survived Punk without becoming irrelevant.
They discovered fresh creative energy through Ronnie Wood's arrival.
And they proved, once again, that no matter how music evolved, The Rolling Stones would continue to lead the way.
Explore The Rolling Stones' London with Magical Music Tours
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Coming in Part Seven - next post will be shared on the Wednesday, 23rd September
The final chapter follows The Rolling Stones from the 1980s to the present day, covering the temporary tensions between Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Steel Wheels, the record-breaking world tours, Bridges to Babylon, A Bigger Bang, the death of Charlie Watts, the arrival of Steve Jordan, the acclaimed Hackney Diamonds album, and how—more than 60 years after forming in London—they continue to define what it means to be The World's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band.
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