Speculation swirls around The Rolling Stones as they mark their half century

Rumours surround one of the rock world's biggest outfits as they celebrate 50 years together this year.

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On July 12, 1962, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones played at London's The Marquee Club with three others, the first time they performed under the name The Rolling Stones.

The band's continued popularity, even though they are now in their sixties and seventies, is shown by the flurry of speculation about whether or not they would mark their 50th anniversary with a gig.

Rolling Stone magazine - named after the same blues song which gave the band their name - reported that the band were considering at least one live concert this year to mark the anniversary.

But Richards has said there will be no full tour this year, despite the band rehearsing together for the first time in five years. "We're just not ready," he told Rolling Stone in March, adding that 2013 was a "more realistic" target for hitting the road.

Jagger took to Twitter last month to deny that the band would stage a show at the London Olympics: "We are not playing the Olympics, but I'm looking forward to watching the games like everyone else!"

The band have also denied recent reports they will play one last concert together at next year's Glastonbury festival, with a statement saying the date was "not in our plans".

An exhibition of photos of the band opens at London's Somerset House on July 12, and members of the band are expected to attend.

A new documentary covering the history of The Stones is due in September.