Mick Jagger dropped a bombshell on Conan O'Brien's podcast – a candid look at the cutthroat world of 80s music scene politics. The Rolling Stones legend dished about his high-stakes game of one-upmanship with David Bowie and John Lennon, revealing the intense competition that drove these musical titans to push boundaries.
It was Bowie who started it all, Jagger claimed, with his audacious adoption of 'Stonesy' style in the 70s. The singer recalled telling Bowie he'd nicked all his ideas after hearing 'The Jean Genie', a snub that Bowie allegedly shrugged off as 'homage'. This infamous period saw Bowie take inspiration from the Stones, highlighting the creative cross-pollination that defined Britain's musical heyday.
But Jagger's rivalry with Lennon was a different beast altogether – a verbal sparring match played out with sharp wit and sarcasm. He pointed to a 1966 video of Lennon trading barbs with Bob Dylan in a taxi, showcasing the quick-witted Liverpudlian's knack for cutting down even the greatest of musicians. Jagger reckoned that Lennon would 'clock it right away' if you said something daft – a trait honed on the streets of Liverpool.
The Rolling Stones are still basking in the glow of their 25th album, 'Foreign Tongues', which dropped last week to rave reviews. The star-studded line-up features appearances from Paul McCartney, Robert Smith of The Cure, Steve Winwood, and Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers – not to mention a haunting posthumous contribution from Charlie Watts. The album's London launch was a night to remember, with Sam Fender and Daniel Craig among the A-listers in attendance.
Jagger also shared an anecdote about never meeting Elvis Presley, which he attributed to Lennon's sage advice at the time. 'Don't meet your heroes,' Jagger recalled Lennon saying – words that reveal a deep understanding of the perils of fandom and the importance of staying true to oneself.