Sir Mick Jagger sticks to vintage hits
AS The Rolling Stones prepare for a summer of lucrative concerts Sir Mick Jagger concedes that most of the band’s fans have no interest in hearing them play new songs on stage.
The Jumpin’ Jack Flash singer, 69, who will perform at Glastonbury and Hyde Park, as well as at a series of shows across the US, reckons concert goers would become dispirited if the group veered away from their classic back catalogue.
“It would be nice to have a new album but people don’t like the new album when you play it on stage,” says Sir Mick.
“They glumly look at you. ‘OK, it will be over in a minute.’ It’s not a good excuse but it’s the truth and has to be said.”
With eyebrows being raised at ticket prices for this year’s gigs (the most expensive VIP tickets for London’s O2 Arena are a walletbusting £950) Sir Mick wants to ensure fans get what they came for. But bandmate Keith Richards wants them to strike while the iron’s hot and make sure they record some new material in the immediate aftermath of the tour.
“The time to record a band is once they’ve been on the road a while so they’re hot,” says Keith. “We’ll think about that while we’re doing this. The world needs more Stones records. So do I.”