The iconic English rock band known as the Rolling Stones was formed in 1962 and is known as one of the most famous bands in rock history.
Although it’s now been over sixty years since they first formed, the band is still able to fill stadiums across the globe with famous hits such as “Start Me Up,” “Brown Sugar,” and “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll.” However, the band is identifiable by its iconic logo that features the famous “Tongue and Lips” or “Big Red Mouth” emblem.
The logo is one of the most widely recognized logos on the internet and has been in use for almost half a century. However, although fans and strangers alike may instantly recognize the symbol and associate it with the brand, they don’t know how it came to be.
The logo was created for a mere £50 and has stuck with the brand as their emblem since its creation, becoming the UK’s favorite t-shirt design.
Although the logo may not have a complex history and many changes, it’s still interesting to learn how the iconic red logo came to be and the history of the iconic Rolling Stones band as well.
1970–Today: The One and Only Rolling Stones Logo
The one and only Rolling Stones logo was created in 1969 during a period when it was still a novelty for bands to brand themselves with a symbol. At this time, the Rolling Stones were working with the label Decca, and they had a symbol created for the band.
However, Mick Jagger, the lead singer and one of the founding members of The Rolling Stones, was not satisfied with the logo the label provided. He decided to find someone to design a logo on his own and opted to visit the Royal College of Art’s final degree show. Here he was captivated by Jon Pasche’s, a student, designs.
Jagger commissioned Pasche to create a poster for the Rolling Stones tour, and once happy with the poster, he hired him to create the logo for the new company named Rolling Stones Records. At this point, the band had left Decca and were now releasing Stones works with their own company. The Rolling Stones logo, which is now fondly referred to as “Tongue and Lips” or “Hot Lips,” was created in just a fortnight.
Pasche reportedly was paid £50 (roughly $77) for his work with the band’s logo. However, the band was so impressed with the logo that they gave the student an additional £200.
This was not the only money Pasche made from the band, as he continued to work with the band and worked with other famous artists such as Judas Priest and Paul McCartney. The artist even received $92,500 when he sold the original draft of the Rolling Stones logo to the London museum V&A.
The emblem first appeared on 1971’s Sticky Fingers LP. As can be expected, the logo was an instant success and became an icon seemingly overnight. The band acknowledged the recognition the logo got and therefore never changed it, leaving it to be the same symbol we associate with the band today.
What Inspired the Rolling Stones Logo?
When Jagger commissioned Pasche to create The Rolling Stones logo, he didn’t merely leave it up to his imagination; he gave him notes on the direction he wanted the logo to go in.
Specifically, he mentioned that he wanted the logo to resemble Kali, a Hindu goddess. If you know anything about Kali, you know that one of the most famous characteristics of the goddess is that she has an open mouth with a tongue sticking out.
After the creation of the logo, Pasche commented that the second he saw Mick Jagger, he had the idea to use the tongue and mouth for the logo. He claimed that this was due to his immediate spotting of the musician’s lips and mouth, as they stood out as his most prominent features.
The logo demonstrates the band’s lead singer’s fiery and defiant mouth, as well as giving a nod to the obvious sexual connotation behind the design.
The History of the Rolling Stones
The history of The Rolling Stones starts back in 1962 when the British rock n’ roll band was first established. It started out with a friendship between vocalist Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Brian Jones, bassist Bill Wyman, and drummer Charlie Watts.
During these formative years, Jones was known as the primary leader. In the beginning, the group was merely experimenting with different sounds, playing what was then considered esoteric, which was primarily based on Chicago blues. They mostly played in West London, playing in random pubs and clubs that would have them.
While the band was still establishing its identity in the early ‘60s, it didn’t take long before The Rolling Stones found themselves at the forefront of the British music scene. Their gritty, rebellious style and blues-based sound quickly set them apart from their more polished peers.
They released their self-titled debut album in 1964, and by then, their fan base had grown rapidly, especially among youth who resonated with the band’s anti-establishment image and raw energy. What began as a niche blues group had now transformed into a full-blown cultural movement.
By the mid-to-late 1960s, the Rolling Stones had fully carved out their legacy. With hits like “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Paint It Black,” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” they were pushing boundaries both musically and culturally.
The band became known for its bold experimentation with sound and for constantly challenging the status quo. This era also saw significant lineup changes—Brian Jones, who had been a founding member and key force in the early years, left the band in 1969 and tragically passed away shortly after. He was replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor, whose arrival marked the start of a new creative peak for the group.
The 1970s brought a wave of success and transformation. Albums like Sticky Fingers (1971) and Exile on Main St. (1972) further cemented the Stones’ reputation as rock icons. They embraced the evolving rock scene while still maintaining their blues-inspired foundation. This was also the period when the “Tongue and Lips” logo made its first appearance, solidifying their visual identity just as their sound matured into its most influential form.
Even as musical trends shifted throughout the ‘80s, ‘90s, and into the 2000s, the Stones remained a relevant and powerful force in music. They released numerous albums, including Tattoo You (1981), Voodoo Lounge (1994), and A Bigger Bang (2005), all of which kept the band in the spotlight.
With each new tour, the band shattered records for ticket sales and continued to prove their staying power in an ever-changing industry.
Despite internal tensions, changes in lineup, and the natural wear of time, The Rolling Stones have endured. Founding members like Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have remained at the heart of the band’s continued success, carrying the spirit and energy that first sparked in a small London flat over six decades ago.
Today, the Rolling Stones are more than just a band—they’re a cultural phenomenon. From their gritty roots to becoming global legends, they’ve influenced generations of musicians and fans alike.
And through it all, the unmistakable “Tongue and Lips” logo has been there, becoming not only a symbol of the band but a universal icon of rock ‘n roll rebellion.
Conclusion
The Rolling Stones logo is more than just a graphic; it’s a symbol that represents over six decades of music, attitude, and cultural influence.
From its humble beginnings as a £50 design by a college student to becoming one of the most recognizable logos in the world, the “Tongue and Lips” has stood the test of time. It perfectly captures the bold, rebellious spirit of the band and has become an inseparable part of their identity.
While other bands have gone through countless rebrands and redesigns, the Rolling Stones have stayed true to their emblem, proving that a great logo doesn’t need to change when it already says everything.
Whether it’s on album covers, T-shirts, or concert stages around the globe, the logo remains a powerful reminder of the band’s lasting impact on rock ‘n roll and pop culture as a whole.
