Mick Jagger turns 63 today. How cool is that? The Bigger Bang tour will sweep through the USA this fall. Hopefully, Metro Detroit will be added to the mix before it's over.Mick has always been one of my musical-mystical heroes. Something about his self-confidence and swaggering persona, I guess. One of those rare pragmatic artists. Plus, his tilt toward the blues as frontman for the Rolling Stones has always thrilled me more than the more pop-infused Beatles. Don't get me wrong: I love the Beatles, too, but find the grittier filter of the blues more fitting to the world we slog in. And despite all the money in that world, Mick and the Stones still have it.
It's funny that Mick and the Stones have been perpetually cast as the bad boys, with the Beatles the good boys. A false comparison, of course, created by lazy people, much like "good" Woodstock vs. "bad" Altamont. Who cares anymore? The Beatles are gone, most of them dead, while the post-Brian Jones Rolling Stones soldier on, and are handsomely rewarded for their persistence. Hats off to Mick and his guys. Keith Richards is apparently on the mend enough to play after his latest nutty mishaps, and Ronnie Wood is back from rehab and ready to go. Let's not forget Charlie Watts on drums. Charlie's good tonight, ain't he?
Which albums are the best? To me, the double album Exile on Main Street is the coolest of all, much of it steeped in the blues. And let's not forget the original blues artists, obviously -- Mick always pays homage, as well. He knows his musical roots as well as anyone, from Robert Johnson to John Lee Hooker and everybody else.To Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones and the whole blues milieu, thanks for making life not only more bearable, but a whole lot more fun!
Today's rune: Fertility.
Ciao!
4 comments:
Happy Birthday, Mick! Love the Stones, too, Erik! I only had one of their albums growing up, but I loved their "bad boy" image...you know, all us "good girls" do! lol --R
Hey Erik,
Have you ever listened to the Charlie Watts Quintet's "Warm & Tender" featuring the vocalist, Bernard Fowler? I listen to this music when I want to relax. Cool post. Hard to believe Mick's 63.
Thanks for the comments, Robin and Jim! I'll look for that album and also, Mail Order Bride.
The internet has been up and down lately, at least for me. Power failures on the West Coast again?
Cheers, hunkering down,
E'
Love love love Mick! Great post as always.
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