Nils Lofgren Has Revisited The Remarkable Moment He Put His Own Name Forward To Replace Mick Taylor In The Rolling Stones, Revealing Just How Close His Career Came To Taking A Completely Different Turn. Long before his place alongside Bruce Springsteen became part of rock history, Lofgren found himself looking toward one of the biggest vacancies imaginable — a guitar spot beside Mick Jagger and Keith Richards — and believed there was at least a possibility his name could enter the conversation. Decades later, his recollection is sending classic-rock fans back to one fascinating crossroads, imagining how different The Rolling Stones might have sounded if one phone call had gone another way.

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Nils Lofgren Nearly Joined the Rolling Stones Until Ronnie Wood Changed Everything

Nils Lofgren on the time he put his name forward to replace Mick Taylor in the Rolling Stones

Before Nils Lofgren became a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, he came surprisingly close to joining another legendary rock group: the Rolling Stones.

The opportunity arose after Mick Taylor left the band in late 1974. With the Stones searching for Taylor’s replacement, a number of high-profile guitarists were considered, including Wayne Perkins, Harvey Mandel and Jeff Beck. Ronnie Wood initially entered the picture as a temporary replacement, while the band planned to use the recording sessions for Black and Blue as a way to evaluate potential candidates.

Lofgren wanted to be one of them.

Ronnie Wood Became Lofgren’s Unexpected Connection

Nils Lofgren on the time he put his name forward to replace Mick Taylor in the Rolling Stones

In a September 1988 issue of Guitar World, Lofgren recalled how seriously he considered pursuing the position.

At one point, however, he remembered that Ronnie Wood was already a likely candidate.

“I pulled another U and went bowling because I remembered, ‘Ronnie Wood! Of course they’ll get him,’” Lofgren recalled.

But he wasn’t ready to give up.

Lofgren had been friendly with Wood, so he decided to call him to find out what was happening with the Stones.

Wood, however, was reportedly uncertain about committing to the band because of his loyalty to the Faces. Instead, he gave Lofgren a phone number for Keith Richards.

That left Lofgren facing a much more intimidating call.

“I’m shaking and nervous and call Keith,” he recalled.

Lofgren introduced himself and mentioned that Wood might have recommended him. Richards, however, responded casually, greeting him as though the conversation were perfectly ordinary.

Lofgren Was Almost on a Plane to Geneva

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At the time, the Stones were considering numerous guitarists and wanted to speed up the process.

Rather than spending years following individual leads, the band decided to hold open auditions. Guitarists would come in, perform a song or two with the group, and then make way for the next candidate.

Lofgren was prepared to take part.

“I was all set to get on the plane to Geneva,” he recalled.

But before he could make the trip, the situation changed.

“Ronnie decided to do it.”

That decision ultimately closed the door on Lofgren joining the Rolling Stones and paved the way for the famous guitar partnership between Wood and Keith Richards that would become a defining part of the band’s sound.

What Might Have Been

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Lofgren wasn’t the only guitarist who wondered what could have happened.

Harvey Mandel, another musician who played during the Black and Blue sessions, later said he believed he would have been a better fit for the Stones than Wood.

But Wood ultimately got the position and remains with the band.

For Lofgren, missing the Stones opportunity was disappointing, but his career eventually took another major turn.

By the time Bruce Springsteen came calling, Lofgren was broke and living with his parents. Joining Springsteen and the E Street Band would become a pivotal moment in his life — one he later described as having saved his life.

In the end, the Stones audition that never happened became one of those fascinating moments in rock history: Lofgren was close enough to be preparing for a flight to Geneva, only for Ronnie Wood’s decision to change the course of his career.