Rolling Stones to Mark 50th Anniversary With London Exhibit

Somerset House will show photographic exhibition beginning July 13th

By Rolling Stone | News & Updates July 09, 2012

In celebration of their 50th anniversary, the Rolling Stones will attend a photographic exhibition in their honor in London on July 12th – the 50th anniversary to the day of their first gig at London’s Marquee Club. The Somerset House will showcase prints and photographs ranging from concert images and studio shots to negatives and outtakes from throughout the band’s history.

“This is our story of 50 fantastic years,” said the band in a statement. “We started out as a blues band playing the clubs and more recently we’ve filled the largest stadiums in the world with the kind of show that none of us could have imagined all those years ago.”

The band debuted as The Rollin’ Stones on July 12, 1962. The band included Mick Jagger (vocals), Keith Richards (guitar), Brian Jones (guitar), Ian Stewart (piano), Dick Taylor (bass) and Tony Chapman (drums.) The exhibit will open free to the public on July 13th and run until August 27th. The band recently unveiled an updated logo to mark their 50th anniversary, and they are strongly considering playing at least one live show this year to celebrate their longevity.

The party will roll on into next year. “The Stones always really considered 1963 to be 50 years, because Charlie [Watts] didn’t actually join until January,” Keith Richards told RS earlier this year. “We look upon 2012 as sort of the year of conception, but the birth is next year.”