Michael Kevin "Mick" Taylor is an English musician, best known as a former member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and the Rolling Stones. "He is regarded by many Stones aficionados as the best guitarist ever to play with the band, and appeared on some of their classic albums ...
Michael Kevin Taylor , Taylor, Mick , Little Mick , The Rolling Stones , Michael Kevin "Mick" Taylor , Rolling stones
Music Groups
The Rolling Stones (1969 – 1974)
Movies
Ladies and Gentlemen
Star Sign
Capricorn
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Trademark
1
Smooth, lyrical playing style.
2
Guitar solos as "All Down the Line", "Can't you hear me Knocking", "Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)", "Love in vain", "Sway", etc.
3
Gibson Les Paul guitar.
4
Long blonde hair (in his youth times).
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Quote
1
People are always asking me whether I regret leaving the Rolling Stones. I make no bones about it - had I remained with the band, I would probably be dead. I was having difficulties with drug addiction and couldn't have lasted. But I'm clean now and have been for years. My life is so much better now than being a drug-ravaged member of the Stones. So no, I don't regret leaving. 'But people who really know me ask another question - whether I regret joining the Stones. To me, that's far more astute.
2
When they asked me to come to the studio in 1969, I thought they just wanted me to play a session. I sort of liked them, but was never passionate about the Stones. In some ways I liked The Beatles more. At the first session, I overdubbed the guitar on Honky Tonk Women, but I thought they were all a little bit vain and full of themselves. After doing guitar parts on three songs, I said to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "If you guys are just going to sit and mess around, I'm going home. I've got things to do." I told them to give me a call if they wanted me to do anything else. The next day, Mick called and asked if I wanted to join. He came and picked me up in his Bentley. I wasn't impressed by all that and I think they kind of liked that attitude.
3
My drug use began as an occasional recreational thing. I never thought I would get addicted. But by the time I returned to London in 1973, I'd become more and more dependent. I was using every day.
4
I was a bit impulsive back then. I had a reputation on stage of being quiet, but off it I wasn't. We used to fight and argue all the time. And one of the things I got angry about was that Mick had promised to give me some credit for some of the songs - and he didn't. I believed I'd contributed enough. Let's put it this way - without my contribution those songs would not have existed. There's not many but enough, things like Sway and Moonlight Mile on Sticky Fingers and a couple of others.
5
When I left, they cut off my money for a year, just like that. But I had to leave because I was frustrated. I had a creative relationship with Mick, but I was also bored for a lot of the time. I wanted more and they wanted to remain the same. I also wanted to deal with my drug problems. I believed if I removed myself from that situation I would sort myself out.
6
After leaving the Rolling Stones: My father was dying of liver cancer and was in terrible pain in hospital. He said he knew I'd been using drugs and asked if I would ask the nurses for stronger painkillers. I did and they gave him morphine. I sat there trying to balance the irony of the situation.
7
After moving to Los Angeles in 1990: I joined the line of junkies. I was a virtual down and out. My lowest time was in the clinic on Christmas Day. A nurse gave me a tumbler of methadone and said, "Have a nice Christmas." I told her there wasn't any Christmas for junkies. I decided to go back to England [in the mid 1990s] to find a cure, however painful.
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Fact
1
Living in a rundown semi-detached cottage in Suffolk, UK. [October 2009]
2
He was the tallest of The Rolling Stones, being about 5 inches taller than the diminutive Brian Jones whom he replaced after Jones's untimely death.
3
Played guitar on several Rolling Stones studio tracks (without guitarist Keith Richards performing guitar), including "Shine A Light", "Sway", "Moonlight Mile", "Hide You Love", "100 Years Ago", and "Winter".
4
First performed on a few tracks of the 1969 album "Let It Bleed" which also included Brian Jones, whom Taylor would replace. Then on Mick Taylor's last album with the Stones, "It's Only Rock N' Roll", Ronnie Wood, who would later replace Taylor, performed on the title track.
5
Elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 (as a member of the Rolling Stones).
6
Former guitarist for the Jack Bruce Band.
7
Left the Rolling Stones in December, 1974, because of musical differences and as he later stated, to save his life because of the heavy drinking and drugs.
8
Former guitarist for the Rolling Stones (1969-1974).
9
Former guitarist for John Mayall's Bluesbreakers.
10
Generally regarded (by critics and musicians alike) as the greatest guitarist the Rolling Stones ever had.
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Family Meeting
2007
Documentary performer: "Blind Willie McTell", "It Hurts Me Too"
Rolling Stones: Voodoo Lounge
1995
TV Movie documentary writer: "Stop Breaking Down"
The Man Who Fell to Earth
1976
performer: "Hello Mary-Lou"
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Rock and Roll's Greatest Failure: Otway the Movie
2013
Documentary producer
Get Yer Ya Ya's Out
2009
Video documentary short executive producer
Special Effects
Title
Year
Status
Character
Freight
2010
first assistant armourer
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Bad City Blues
1999
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Last of the Finest
1990
featured musician
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Crossfire Hurricane
2012
Documentary very special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Every Night's a Saturday Night
2016
Documentary
Himself
The Rolling Stones: Sweet Summer Sun - Hyde Park Live
2013
Documentary
Himself
Rolling Stones: One More Shot
2012
TV Movie
Himself
Crossfire Hurricane
2012
Documentary
Himself (voice)
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
2012
TV Series
Himself - Musical guest
B.B. King: The Life of Riley
2012
Documentary
Himself
The Rolling Stones: LIVE!
2012
Short
Himself
Jimi Hendrix: The Guitar Hero
2011
Documentary
Himself
Mick Taylor Band: New Morning - The Tokyo Concert
2010
Video
Himself
Stones in Exile
2010
Documentary
Himself
Get Yer Ya Ya's Out
2009
Video documentary short
Family Meeting
2007
Documentary
Himself
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers and Friends: 70th Birthday Concert
2003
Video
Himself - Guitar
Let It Bleed - 40 Jahre Rolling Stones
2002
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Late Show with David Letterman
2000
TV Series
Himself - Guest Band Member
25x5: The Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones
1990
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Jammin' with the Blues Greats
1982
Video documentary
Himself
The Rolling Stones - Die ersten 20 Jahre
1982
TV Movie documentary
Himself
2nd House
1974
TV Series
Himself
Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones
1973
Documentary
Himself (Guitar) (as The Rolling Stones)
Cocksucker Blues
1972
Documentary
Himself
The Dave Cash Radio Show
1972
TV Series
Himself
Gimme Shelter
1970
Documentary
Himself
Schlag auf Schlager
1970
TV Movie
Himself (as Rolling Stones)
The Stones in the Park
1969
Documentary
Himself - Guitar
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Video Rewind: The Rolling Stones' Great Video Hits
1984
Video documentary
Himself
Ungdomsredaktionen
1974
TV Series
Himself - Performer, The Rolling Stones
Known for movies
Gimme Shelter (1970) as Himself
Crossfire Hurricane (2012) as Thanks
Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (1973) as Himself (Guitar)
$300 Thousand
