Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why did the Rolling Stones return to Chicago blues covers on Blue & Lonesome?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
the Rolling Stones
Formed in 1962, the Rolling Stones became one of rock's most definitive bands.
In 2016, the Rolling Stones released Blue & Lonesome, an album consisting entirely of Chicago blues covers. The band chose to record this collection as a way of returning to their musical beginnings.1
When the group formed in the early 1960s, they started as a cover band that drew heavily on the catalogs of influential blues and rock-and-roll performers of the 1950s. Their very name was inspired by a song by blues legend Muddy Waters. By revisiting these roots on Blue & Lonesome, the band honored the genre that originally shaped their sound and served as the foundation for their long-standing career in rock music. The album was well-received, winning the Grammy Award for best traditional blues album.2341