Mick Taylor

Michael Kevin Taylor (born 17 January 1949) is an English guitarist, best known as a former member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (1967–1969) and the Rolling Stones (1969–1974). As a member of the Stones, he appeared on Let It Bleed (1969), Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! (1970), Sticky Fingers (1971), Exile on Main St. (1972), Goats Head Soup (1973), It's Only Rock 'n Roll (1974), and Tattoo You (1981).

Since leaving the Rolling Stones in December 1974, Taylor has worked with numerous other artists and released several solo albums. From November 2012 onwards, he participated in the Stones' 50th-Anniversary shows in London and Newark, and in the band's 50 & Counting tour, which included North America, Glastonbury Festival and Hyde Park in 2013.

Taylor was ranked 37th in Rolling Stone magazine's 2011 list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash states that Taylor has had the biggest influence on him.

Taylor was born to a working-class family in Welwyn Garden City, then raised in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, where his father worked as a fitter for the De Havilland aircraft company. He began playing guitar at age nine, learning from his mother's younger brother. As a teenager, he formed bands with schoolmates and started performing concerts under names such as the Juniors and the Strangers. They also appeared on television and put out a single. Part of the band was recruited for a new group called the Gods, which included Ken Hensley (later of Uriah Heep fame). In 1966, the Gods opened for Cream at the Starlite Ballroom in Wembley.

On 18 April 1966, at age 17, Taylor went to see a John Mayall's Bluesbreakers performance at The Hop, Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, and since Eric Clapton was absent, Taylor got to play in his stead. After playing the second set, and garnering Mayall's respect, Taylor left the stage, joined his friends and exited the venue before Mayall could speak with him. Still, this encounter proved pivotal in Taylor's career, when Mayall needed someone to fill Peter Green's vacancy the following year when Green quit to form Fleetwood Mac. Mayall placed a 'Guitarist Wanted' advert in the weekly Melody Maker music paper, and got a response from Taylor, whom he readily invited to join. Taylor made his debut with the Bluesbreakers at the Manor House, an old blues club in north London. For those in the music scene the night was an event … "Let's go and see this 17-year-old kid try and replace Eric".

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.