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THE ROLLING STONES arriving at London’s Hyde Park to perform a free concert introducing their new guitarist MICK TAYLOR, July 5, 1969

MICK TAYLOR performing his first live gig as a Rolling Stone at Hyde Park in London, July 5, 1969

“Mick Taylor tried shyly to hide behind the hair billowing around his shoulders as he played hopelessly out of time. And I became very aware of how much Brian’s strutting, mincing, desperate to be loved stance had been a vital part of the Stones’ appeal. Mick Taylor appeared to have about as much charisma as Bill Wyman (and you can’t have much less than that).”

THE ROLLING STONES photographed during rehearsal for the Hyde Park free concert, July 1969

“Mick Taylor remembers their first rehearsal as ‘really ragged. I thought, how do these guys make such great records when they’re so sloppy and spontaneous? But it was because they had this great chemistry.’”

“Four days later Mick Taylor was introduced to the world at a photo session beside the bandstand in Hyde Park. With his tall, willowy good looks and clear blue eyes, he looked barely old enough to be out of school. He revealed to reporters hungry for an angle that he was a teetotal vegetarian. ‘I want to be as naturally healthy and aware as I can,’ he explained shyly.

‘Why did you choose him, Mick?’ someone asked Jagger. ‘‘Cos I fancy him, don’t I?’ he replied camply, and everybody laughed. ‘Did you really mean all that stuff about not drinking?’ Keith asked incredulously later. ‘Sure.’ Mick grinned. ‘But I wouldn’t say no if you were to offer me a bit of smoke.’”

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