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Today in Rolling Stones history: January 12

*Click for DAILY ROLLING STONES CHRONOLOGY 1962-present

January 12 stands as a compact but revealing cross-section of Rolling Stones history, stretching from their early London club days to full-scale stadium dominance, beginning with the crucial 1963 Ealing Jazz Club gig that united Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts for the first time, continuing through packed UK theaters in 1964, formative De Lane Lea Studios sessions in 1965 that shaped The Last Time and Play With Fire, a tense Mick and Keith press conference in 1977, creative late-night experimentation by Mick and Ronnie in New York in 1986, a massive career-spanning Boston setlist in 2003, and later connections to early influencers like Carlo Little, all underscoring the Stones’ constant evolution, deep roots, and refusal to ever stand still.

January 12, 1963: Ealing Jazz Club, London, England — the night that quietly rewrote Rolling Stones history, marking the first time Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts appeared together onstage with the band, locking in a rhythm section that would define the Stones’ sound, swing, and staying power for decades to come.

Jan. 12, 1964: Granada Theatre, Tooting, England — two shows in one day that captured the Rolling Stones in their hungry, pre-fame phase, sharpening their R&B attack before packed crowds, testing setlists, building confidence, and turning repetition into momentum as word of the band’s raw live power continued to spread across London.

Jan. 11-12 1965: Recording sessions at De Lane Lea Studios, London
The Last Time I (without Brian’s guitar solo)
A Mess Of Fire (early version of Play With Fire, probably with different lyrics; unverified)
Play With Fire I (unverified early version)

Jan. 12, 1977: Mick and Keith held a press conference at The Bell Hotel in Aston Clinton, the same place Keith Richards had been staying during his 1977 drug trial at Aylesbury Crown Court, with Mick Jagger dropping in to support him. The media gathering came after the court case wrapped up, where Richards was convicted of cocaine possession but ultimately escaped a jail term.

Jan. 12, 1986: Mick records a demo of the song Peace For The Wicked (under title Soul City) at Ronnie’s homestudio, NYC. Mick will re-record the song for his second solo album Primitive Cool.
Line-up: Mick (guitar, vocals)/ Ronnie (drums)

January 12, 2003: Fleet Center, Boston, MA, USA
You Got Me Rocking/Start Me Up/If You Can’t Rock Me/Don’t Stop/Monkey Man/No Expectations/Stray Cat Blues/Sympathy For The Devil/Bitch/Tumbling Dice/Band introduction/Thru And Thru/Before They Make Me Run/Gimme Shelter/All Down The Line/Midnight Rambler/Honky Tonk Women/Street Fighting Man/Satisfaction/It’s Only Rock’n Roll/Like A Rolling Stone/Brown Sugar/Jumpin’ Jack Flash

January 12, 2009: Release of Carlo Little Allstars’ CD Never Stop Rockin’, with Ronnie Wood on two tracks: 1. Midnight Special/ 2. Country Line Special

Carlo Little was a prominent British drummer and a key influence on the early Rolling Stones. A member of Screaming Lord Sutch’s Savages, Little’s energetic drumming style inspired Charlie Watts, the Stones’ iconic drummer. In their formative days, the Rolling Stones occasionally sought Little’s expertise. He briefly played with the band in 1962 before Charlie Watts officially joined.

Little’s reputation as a skilled and powerful drummer made him a sought-after figure in London’s music scene. While his stint with the Stones was short-lived, his contribution to their early development was significant. He later turned down an offer to join the band permanently, as he preferred the steady income from his day job. Carlo Little’s legacy remains as a foundational influence on one of the greatest rock bands in history, highlighting the interconnected nature of London’s vibrant music scene in the early 1960s.

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