September 1966:
At a Rolling Stones concert in Sacramento, a short in Keith Richards' guitar cord causes a massive electrical surge to pass through his guitar. He is knocked to the floor. Mick Jagger and Brian Jones, both facing in the opposite direction, don't see him in time. Charlie Watts does, but he's behind the drums. Bill Wyman also sees Richards fall, and runs over to pull out the cord, but he's a bit too far away. By the time he pulls the cord out, it's too late; Richards' heart has stopped. Doctors are unable to revive him and he is pronounced dead at a Sacramento hospital.
December 1966:
The four remaining Rolling Stones, with Mick Jagger still distraught over Keith Richards' death, begin attempting to record a new album in London. But Jagger and Brian Jones, who have never gotten along, now find it impossible to work together, especially given Jagger's state. They do complete one song, a tribute to Keith titled "Ruby Tuesday," but otherwise decide that they are better off not trying to keep the band going. The Rolling Stones announce their breakup; the sessions will continue for a Mick Jagger solo album.
January 1967:
The Mick Jagger Album is released. "Ruby Tuesday" reaches No. 5 on the U.S. charts and No. 1 in Britain.
February 1967:
Brian Jones persuades Steve Winwood, who is on the verge of leaving the Spencer Davis Group, to form a new band with himself and the ex-Stones rhythm section of Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts. Winwood suggests the name "Traffic" at one point for the band, but later he and Jones come up with a name that better underlines the circumstances around how the band came to be: Blind Faith.
June 1967:
Brian Jones makes a personal appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival in California, partly to promote Blind Faith.
August 1967:
Blind Faith's self-titled debut album is released by Decca (UK). It features a mix of old blues numbers, songs by Winwood (the standout being "Paper Sun"), Brian Jones' first songs to make it to the recording studio (including "Thank You"), and Bill Wyman's "In Another Land."