When the Rolling Stones played their very first show on this day 50 years ago (July 12, 1962), they didn’t play one original song. The entire show was covers of their favorite blues and R&B songs.
Handwritten first Rolling Stones setlist from Ian Stewart's Diary
At that show at The Marquee in London, the Stones were billed as ‘The Rollin’ Stones’.
As the years would roll on, Keith Richards often name-checked a lot of these artists in interviews as his influences. The band played songs by Elmore James, Willie Dixon, Jimmy Reed, Chuck Berry and Lieber & Stoller.
The Stones wouldn’t release their debut album ‘The Rolling Stones’ until nearly two years later on April 16, 1964. None of the songs from that first night made the first album although ‘Down The Road Apiece’ would be recorded by the band. The first album featured only one original song ‘Tell Me’ by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. It wouldn’t be until 1966’s ‘Aftermath’ until the Rolling Stones had their first album of original songs.
The setlist for the very first Rolling Stones show from the Marquee 50 years ago was:
– Kansas City (Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller)
– Baby What’s Wrong (Willie Dixon)
– Confessin’ The Blues (Walter Brown/Jay McShann)
– Bright Lights, Big City (Jimmy Reed/Mary Lee Reed)
– Dust My Blues (Elmore James)
– Down The Road Apiece (Tony Raye)
– I’m A Love You (Jimmy Reed)
– Bad Boy (Eddy Taylor)
– I Ain’t Got You (Calvin Carter)
– Hush-Hush (Jimmy Reed)
– Ride ‘Em On Down (Eddy Taylor)
– Back In The USA (Chuck Berry)
– Kind Of Lonesome (Jimmy Reed)
– Blues Before Sunrise (Elmore James)
– Big Boss Man (Luther Dixon/Al Smith)
– Don’t Stay Out All Night (Billy Boy Arnold)
– Tell Me That You Love Me (Jimmy Reed)
– Happy Home (Elmore James)
