In 1974, there was a party at Eric Clapton's London house, where Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood, Marshall Chess, and many others mingled. For Mick Taylor, it had been a tumultuous few years with the Rolling Stones. He had joined the band in 1969, taking the place of Brian Jones and helping to craft some of the most iconic albums in rock history. "Sticky Fingers," "Exile on Main St.," and "Let It Bleed", which all bore his unmistakable guitar sound. A perfect counterpoint to Keith Richards' The Stones were an unstoppable musical force, as Taylor was on par with the likes of Eric Clapton and Peter Green. The Stones had risen to the pinnacle of rock, but behind the scenes, the tension was building.
By 1974, things were starting to fray. Richards' drug problems were spiraling out of control, affecting the band's ability to function as a cohesive unit. Taylor was always quiet and reserved, and found himself frustrated with Richards and Jagger's indifference to his songwriting. The final straw came during the recording for "It's Only Rock 'n Roll", when Taylors' musical ideas were shut down by Richards, who was erasing Taylor's riffs. So, that night at Clapton’s party, Taylor's mind had been made up for some time. The Stones were gearing up to head to Munich to record, and Taylor had had enough.
Taylor found himself in a quiet corner of the room with Jagger, and right then and there he turned to Jagger and said, “I’m leaving the band.” Jagger, who was laughing at another conversation he was in, froze as Taylor simply walked out, leaving Jagger stunned. The Rolling Stones were the biggest band in rock music and this man who was invited into a dream situation walked away.
The Stones were left scrambling to figure out who could replace him, as they were about to enter the studio for their new album. Fortunately for them, at the time Mick Taylor had worlked on a solo album with his friend Faces guitarist Ronnie Wood. Wood had been around the Stones' for years, as he was also friends with Keith Richards which would also make him a natural fit. Pair that with the fact that Ronnie was right next to Jagger when Taylor made his exit, lead Jagger to turn to Ronnie and say,
"You should join the band."
At the time it was a casual remark, but for Ronnie Wood, it became the opportunity of a lifetime. The Stones would officially announce that Taylor was out and Wood was now on board, and Taylor had already made peace with his decision.
"The last five-and-a-half years with the Stones have been very exciting," he said in a statement. "But I feel now is the time to move on and do something new."
Taylor, would eventually form a new group with Jack Bruce, and the Rolling Stones carried on with Ronnie Wood. Mick Taylor’s departure at that fateful party in December 1974 would become a defining moment in the Stones' history, that found the band, once again with a new guitarist and a new chapter in their storied career.