Mick Jagger's regret is palpable – like a missed penalty in the Champions League final – as he reflects on never having met Elvis Presley. The Rolling Stones' frontman has gone on record, confessing that his decision not to meet 'The King' was influenced by John Lennon's sage advice to avoid meeting your heroes.
The Beatles legend had been left underwhelmed by their 1965 encounter with Presley at his LA home, an experience arranged by NME writer Chris Hutchins. So much for the excitement of a rock 'n' roll dream team – it turned out to be a bit of a damp squib for Lennon. He shared this wisdom with Jagger on multiple occasions, urging him to keep Elvis on a pedestal and preserve their mystique.
Jagger recalls Lennon's words, like a mantra that echoed in his mind: “You should never meet your heroes. I would never meet Elvis, Mick, if I were you.” He admits to following this counsel – but now reckons it was a misguided decision, labelling it "really stupid" and expressing a deep desire to have met the rock icon. Perhaps Jagger's perception of Presley might have differed from Lennon's...
Meanwhile, his bandmate Paul McCartney paints a very different picture of that 1965 meeting with Elvis. The Beatles' bassist has always spoken fondly of their encounter, describing Presley as "really great" and "a very handsome guy." Even today, he recalls it as a "great evening" where they had a friendly chat about music – including a discussion on the humble bass guitar.
This candid admission from Jagger comes hot on the heels of The Rolling Stones' latest album drop, 'Foreign Tongues', which has been making waves in the music scene. Featuring a star-studded cast of collaborators, including Paul McCartney himself, it's clear that the band is still going strong – even if Mick Jagger does have some "what ifs" about meeting Elvis...