But Mick Jagger is a little too much for me. Let me explain why.

To do that, you have to go way back and find the definition of Rock. You have to search hard for it, because the corporations that now own Rock, have covered the definition. Like the part of the definition that states that rock is rebellious. Or the part that describes it as music made by the young as a platform to air their grievances with their parents and teachers. Rock is supposed to be youthful and rebellious, or it's not Rock. Even if Mick Jagger is singing it.

So who is Mick Jagger? Who is Mick Jagger today? I remember a Mick Jagger a long time ago when he had a real chip on his shoulder regarding older people, as sure as I remember Roger singing Peter's iconic line "Hope I die before I get old." Mick was a wise guy when he was younger. He did some drugs, hated the establishment and the scowl on his face when he was on stage was real. I knew Mick Jagger years ago when he was Mick Jagger.

Today Mick Jagger is Sir Michael Jagger, at the very top of British society that most young rockers hate. Today, it is estimated that Sir Michael Jagger is worth somewhere in the vicinity of $300 million. That's who he is today - an extremely wealthy and high-ranking member of the Realm. He stopped being a rocker a long time ago and transformed himself into one of the smartest businessmen in Rock.

So, at the Grammys, when Sir Michael Jagger grabs a microphone and launches into an R&B number, I tend not to take it seriously. In fact, I tend to mock it. I will gladly watch all the footage or listen to all the tapes made back when there was a Mick Jagger. But I am sorry, I am just not moved by this old millionaire clown bouncing around on stage. In my book he gets an A for stair master usage. It ends there.

As I said, not all old rock bands fall into this category. Look at the Allman Bros. Band. Their line up must have three generations of musicians in it. Gregg is still hitting the notes with his voice. Their R&B sounds like it should sound - from the heart.

Rock is a funny thing to define. But to me it is an 18-year old Paul Jones, lead singer of Manfred Mann, back in the 60's during a "British Invasion" tour. The band is in Chicago staying at a dive hotel. Back in London he had purchased a cheap pair of shoes that were already falling apart. All he wanted was to make it to Chicago's famous blues clubs. In fact, he wanted to see Muddy Waters, who was in town, playing. He set off for the blues clubs. He couldn't afford a taxi. He was maybe 30 blocks from them and it was raining.

All he can remember is that his shoes were falling apart. But he made it, as wet as a sewer rat. The doorman where Muddy was playing asked for ID. Paul didn't even know what ID was. It was not a word he knew, literally. He hurriedly told the man his story. He was a singer for a band; they had a big hit in the U.S. called "Do Wah Diddy Diddy," and he only wanted to watch Muddy play. Muddy was his hero.

He sat there outside the club with the rain falling on him until the doorman talked to someone else. Finally, he was allowed in, listened to the set, even got to meet with Muddy after the show. It was the biggest night of his life. He had met his hero, the man that most influenced him in his life. He related this story to me in Germany in a stairwell, at a concert hall where his band The Paul Jones Blues Band was set to play later that night. I will never forget it.

Back then there were a lot of blues and R&B artist whose works were being studied and covered by The Beatles, The Stones, Zep, everyone. There was a lot of respect for people like Southerner Robert Lindsey, who helped invent a whole new kind of music. Lets face it, Rock is a Southern product. I remember Gregg Allman was being interviewed one day and the reporter used the phrase "Southern Rock," and Gregg had to clarify the redundancy of that phrase. "That's like saying 'Rock Rock' because all Rock has Southern roots," he explained patiently for maybe the hundredth time.

Roots. Jagger took the roots of a kind of music and turned himself into a king with them. Will there be a Paul Jones type fan following Mick around through life, trying to get near the  "Master?" Probably not. He had a great run using the foundations of other people's music to make himself a wealthy man. Good for him. At the same time, he helped those old artists by bringing their art to the forefront. And he, among others, deserves a lot of credit for that.

I remember when Grace Slick crashed and burned in the late seventies-early eighties in Germany. She said, "I'm too old for this sh**. This is young people's music and when you stop being young you should get off that stage." And she did, And she still believes this today. I agree with her.

I would say that Mick Jagger should take that advice and just go home. Jagger has had a great career. But unfortunately, there is no fountain of youth. He should give someone else some stage time.

 

 

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