If 2012 is anything, it is the year of Mick Jagger. From his performance hosting "Saturday Night Live" to the Rolling Stones' 50-year anniversary to a controversial biography depicting his many lovers which include the likes of David Bowie, it couldn't be more appropriate to celebrate the 69th birthday for an influential international sex icon and artist.

Jagger, who turned 69-years-young on Thursday was born in Kent, England to a middle-class family. After leaving school in the 1960's, Jagger reunited with a former friend named Keith Richards in addition to Brian Jones, Ian Stewart, Dick Taylor and Tony Chapman to create a band originally called The Rollin' Stones. The group, which later changed to what we know now as The Rolling Stones, had their first performance on July 12, 1962 and released their first album in 1964.

The rest of the Rolling Stones' 50 year history, selling over 200 million albums, is well, rock 'n' roll history.

Since that first performance, Jagger as the front man has influenced the world in a myriad of ways from music, to fashion, to art, to sexuality and completely culture in general.

Most recently, Jagger was the subject of a book by biographer Chris Anderson entitled "Mick: The Wild Life and Mad Genius of Jagger." Anderson gave a low estimate that Jagger had slept with over 4,000 women and even some men including David Bowie during his career.

"Mick Jagger has slept with 4,000 women over the course of his life, and in retrospect, I think that might be kind of a low figure," Anderson told "Extra."

In honor of the legend's 69th birthday, view the slideshow to see photos of Mick Jagger over the years.