![\"Mick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mick-Taylor-Keith-Richards-Mick-Jagger-The-Rolling-Stones-Far-Out-Magazine-F-1140x855.jpg\")
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(Credits: Far Out \/ Alamy)<\/p>\n
Tue 30 December 2025 20:00, UK <\/p>\n
Mick Taylor<\/a> may only have been in the fold of The Rolling Stones for a span of five years, but in that time firmly cemented himself as one of the all-time great guitarists.\u00a0<\/p>\n Of course, let\u2019s not forget that he has also achieved a lot outside of that finite prism, but when considering those seismic Stones years, it was very much a race to the top of the tree. Then, after tensions had frayed and he could see that his talents would be put to better use elsewhere, he let go<\/a>. It was that simple. If only all band break-ups were the same. <\/p>\n That obviously represents a highly streamlined version of the story, but in essence, Taylor\u2019s tenure as a guitarist kingpin was one that blazed bright but not for long. In a roundabout way, that also mirrors the path of the man\u2019s hero, as someone who instantly rocketed into stratospheric orbit from the second they stepped on to the scene, but ultimately flew too close to the sun. <\/p>\n Naturally, it\u2019s worth remembering that Taylor himself didn\u2019t just bolt out of the blue and instantly leap to the top rung of The Rolling Stones, even though it may have seemed that way. Prior to his 1970s stint, he was a pivotal member of John Mayall\u2019s Bluesbreakers, which makes it more than clear which genre was his real bread and butter when learning the ropes of rock and roll.\u00a0<\/p>\n Like many wannabe stars, Taylor would listen to \u201cAnything and everything I could possibly buy\u201d when he was growing up. He recalled in a 1993 interview: \u201cI mean, I used to listen to jazz guitar players, Wes Montgomery. I used to listen to Charlie Christian, but mostly blues guitar players. BB King especially. Freddie King, Albert King. But I would say that my favorite guitar player was Jimi Hendrix.\u201d<\/p>\n After a long list of worthy guitarists, all as significant as the next, Hendrix had to be the nub of Taylor\u2019s whole horizons. Of course, that comes as no major surprise \u2013 at his peak, he was the envy of most people in the world, let alone musicians. Yet as luck would have it and as the stars aligned, the trajectory of Hendrix\u2019s own path, along with Taylor\u2019s original blues proclivities, led them straight into each other\u2019s orbit.\u00a0<\/p>\n