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Today in Rolling Stones history: January 31

*Click for DAILY ROLLING STONES CHRONOLOGY 1962-present

January 31 marks a fascinating thread in The Rolling Stones’ long, restless journey. From smoky London clubs to packed American arenas, this date captures the band in motion—learning, growing, and conquering new ground. In early 1963, the Stones were still sharpening their blues-driven attack in intimate venues like the Marquee, absorbing the sounds that would soon shake Britain. By January 31, 1964, they were already riding the wave of fame on the UK circuit, while decades later, in 1998, they stood as global giants filling arenas in the U.S. Same band, same hunger—different scale, bigger roar.

January 31, 1963: Marquee International Jazz Club, London, England
The Rolling Stones played their first-ever gig under that name at London’s Marquee Club on July 12, 1962. Sitting at 165 Oxford Street, the Marquee was a hotspot for jazz and R&B, making it the ideal place for the band to kick things off. Back then, the lineup featured Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Ian Stewart, Dick Taylor, and drummer Tony Chapman.

That July 1962 show happened thanks to Alexis Korner, whose band Blues Incorporated was originally booked but had a BBC session that night. Korner suggested the Stones fill in, giving them a golden opportunity. They hit the stage with a set packed with blues and R&B covers, playing songs by legends like Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters and Jimmy Reed, among others.

The Marquee quickly became a key venue in the Stones’ early days, as they played there often before moving on to bigger crowds. These small gigs helped them sharpen their sound, energy, and stage presence. Their performances at the club got them noticed, leading to their first manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, signing them in 1963.

That first Marquee gig is now a legendary moment in rock history. Almost a decade later, in 1971, the Stones returned to the club for a special filmed performance, showing just how far they’d come. From a tiny London venue to the biggest stadiums in the world, their journey started on that summer night in 1962—setting the foundation for their rise as rock and roll’s ultimate band.

January 31, 1964: Public Hall, Preston, England

January 31, 1998: Rose Garden, Portland, OR, USA
Satisfaction/Let’s Spend The Night Together/Flip The Switch/Gimme Shelter/It’s Only Rock’n Roll/Sister Morphine/Bitch/Saint Of Me/Out Of Control/Miss You/Band introduction/You Don’t Have To Mean It/Wanna Hold You/Little Queenie/The Last Time/Like A Rolling Stone/Sympathy For The Devil/Tumbling Dice/Honky Tonk Women/Start Me Up/Jumpin’ Jack Flash/Brown Sugar

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