Mick Taylor let The Rolling Stones Late 1974, at the peak of the British band and during a European tour. The event marked a turning point in the formation, which had already undergone complex changes following the departure Brian Jones. The replacement raised doubts: who would fill lead guitar after the departure? The debate spread throughout the world music scene.
At this time, the Rolling Stones were experiencing a period of success with songs like Wild horses And Give me protection. Rumors about candidates who could replace Taylor circulated heavily in the press and among fans. Several names came up: Jeff Beck, Steve Marriott and also Peter Framptona number that raised speculation and expectations.
Accordingly MOJO MagazineThe version circulating was that Frampton was on the list of possible members of the group. Frampton himself had not yet achieved the worldwide fame with his album that would come the following year Frampton comes alive!. Despite this potential There was no real rapprochement with the band, as bassist Bill Wyman made clear.: “I liked Peter, but he never worked with us. He was too physically attractive to be a Rolling Stone.”
Accordingly American songwriter, Several famous guitarists were in the running to join the Rolling Stones. Jeff Beck ruled out this possibility because he didn’t want to limit his career to traditional twelve-bar blues. Steve Marriott, on the other hand, missed the opportunity at the audition by being too prominent on stage, which disturbed Mick Jagger, the undisputed leader of the group.
The band’s appeal was undeniable: joining the Rolling Stones opened the door to international fame and professional consolidation for every musician of the 1970s. Even so, The band’s internal environment seemed intense and even chaotic.a product of personal and legal tensions added to drug use.
When Frampton was mentioned as a possible replacement for Taylor, the information was based much more on rumor than on concrete facts. The British musician later admitted in an interview with The Howard Stern Show in March 2016 that he never received a formal offer. Still, he imagined what it would have been like to share the stage with Jagger and Richards: “I would have liked to play with them, but I also wanted to continue my solo work.“, he explained.
Frampton explained that if he had joined, he would have had difficulty balancing his own career with being part of such a demanding band. He explained the following: “Then Keith Richards would have said, ‘Fuck it.'”imitates the guitarist’s characteristic gesture. He believed that this dynamic would have led to conflicts of interests and lifestyles.
Frampton himself commented ironically on the hypothetical outcome: “If I had played with them, I would probably be dead,” he said, referring to the extreme pace of life within the group. Frampton’s removal from the shortlist coincided with the arrival of Ronnie Woodwho was close to Keith Richards and immediately fit into the vacant role.
The changes after 1974 led the Rolling Stones to a new level of stability. Ronnie Wood not only met the band’s technical requirements, but also brought personal affinity, which was a priority for the founding core. Bill Wyman claimed that the choice met both musical and human compatibility criteria.
In the meantime, Peter Frampton He gained fame in 1975 with his album. The parting of ways favored the development of both projects: The Rolling Stones They consolidated a legendary line-up and Frampton became one of the most famous guitarists of the following decades.
The following years confirmed the success of the decision. The interaction between Jagger, Richards and Wood proved solid and kept the band’s repertoire in the international charts.while Frampton appeared in well-known tours. The different paths of both parties helped enrich the history of rock music without the need for a final coincidence on stage.
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