b u l l e va r d
Where’s Your Head At?
mick jagger
Documentaries, gigs, books and, of course, a new greatest hits, are marking the half-century of the Rolling Stones. Satisfaction has surely been got by now, but what else does Sir Mick have going on?
Start Me Up
Michael Phillip Jagger was born on July 26, 1943, in Dartford, Kent. Father Joe taught PE, mother Eva cut hair. Younger brother Chris is a musician who released the last of his seven solo albums in 2009. (Mick’s fourth came out in 2001.) Until going to LSE in 1961, for an economics degree that he would not finish, young Jagger was known as Mike.
With The Beatles
Two weeks before Jagger’s 19th birthday, the Stones played their first gig, at London’s Marquee Club. Their debut album was released in April 1964; by 1966 they were the Beatles’ biggest chart rivals. Last year, Paul McCartney honeymooned at Jagger’s house on Mustique. “Paul is very nice and easy to get on with,” said Jagger, in 1995.
words: paul wilson. illustration: lie-ins and tigers
Sir Mick-y Tak e
Of Jagger’s 2003 knighthood, Charlie Watts said, “Anybody else would be lynched: 18 wives and 20 children and he’s knighted, fantastic!” The drummer was only 16 wives and 13 children out, but no Stone has had more of either. Mick is the second oldest, after Charlie (b.1941), and before Keith (Dec 1943) and Ronnie (1947).
Mick Jagge r, Guita rist
As well as vocals, harmonica and swagger, Jagger has contributed rhythm guitar parts to several Rolling Stones records: Sway, on Sticky Fingers (1971), Stop Breaking Down on Exile On Main St (1972) and Fingerprint File on It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll (1974). One producer present said Mick’s licks made the sound “a little choppier”.
Yo u Ca n Always Ge t Wh at Yo u Wa nt
On the A Bigger Bang Tou r of 2005-6, the rider stated that Jagger’s dressing room must have the right TV cha nnels for cricket. In 1997, with covera ge of an international tourname nt unavailable, he founded a company to buy the rights and bro adcast it online. He is also a regular face in the stands at Lord’s in Lon don for England matches.
Keith On Kee pin g On
Born 145 days apart in the same Kent hospital – now a care facility mainly for the elderly – Keith Richards and Jagger met as teens on the platform at Dartford station in December 1961. “You’ve got to go through the bullshit; it’s like a marriage,” said Richards, of the pair, in his 2010 memoir, Life, which, by revealing said BS, burned then rebuilt bridges.
Sym pathy For The Dev ils
After being blamed for the death of a fan at a Stones concert in 1969, the gig’s security, the Hells Angels, planned to kill Jagger at a house in Long Island, New York, but a boatload of biker assassins capsized. In 2007, Mick was executive producer on The Knights Of Prosperity , a sitcom about thieves out to rob his Manhattan apartment.
Not Fad e Away
rHeavy, a supergroup with Last year, Jagger recorded with Supe y and Dave Stewart, and Marle ian Dam an, Rahm AR e, Joss Ston tly himself, including direc ts twee He launched his Twitter page. 69th, another from his on nt prese day birth a with one pics: the 80-track, 50th for s song es Ston Paris recording new manofrockrollson. ndold #gra ! GRRR , album y ersar anniv www.rollingstones.com
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