As the old saying goes, “a rolling stone gathers no moss,” and that adage could certainly be applied to famous Rolling Stones members Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, whop both are celebrating their 80th birthday this year.
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With The Rolling Stones set to release a new studio album, Hackney Diamonds, this Friday, October 20, Richards and Jagger—along with guitarist Ronnie Wood—recently sat down to talk with CBS Sunday Morning and discussed reaching the milestone age, among other topics.
Richards, who turns the big 8-0 in December, was asked how he felt about that, to which he replied with a laugh, “I asked Mick, because he’s six months older than me. And he says it’s not that different.”
As for Jagger, who celebrated his 80th birthday July, he said, “It’s a bit overblown. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, being 80. There’s not really options here. You’re either going to get there or not.”
Wood, meanwhile, told CBS Sunday Morning that he doesn’t think time has taken that much of a toll on Jagger. “He’s singing the best he’s ever sang, I think, now,” Wood declared. “That’s another reason we’ve got to keep going. When you’ve got it, flaunt it, you know?”
The Stones, who celebrated their 60th anniversary last year, decided to keep going after the loss of longtime drummer Charlie Watts, who died at age 80 in 2021. Jagger suggested that Watts’ passing was perhaps a motivating factor in the band finishing the new album, which will be the group’s first collection of new songs in 18 years.
“I think maybe because of Charlie’s demise that we felt that, if the Stones were going to continue, then we better make a mark of what the Stones are now,” Jagger said.
Asked whether it was difficult emotionally for him to play in the band without Watts behind the drum kit, Jagger said, “Yeah, of course, it’s hard. I mean, it’s all my life. Ever since I was 19 or whatever, it’s always been Charlie.”
He added, however, “[Y]ou have to get past that in life, you know? I love Charlie … but I still want to carry on making music.”
Two tracks on Hackney Diamonds feature Watts playing drums, one of which, “Live by the Sword,” also includes features a guest appearance by former Stones bassist Bill Wyman, who left the band back in 1993.
Jagger said Wyman, who is 86 years old, had no apprehension about playing on the track.
“I phoned him and I said, ‘Are you still playing the bass even?,’” he recalled. “He said, ‘What do you mean? I play every day! I’m making an album.’ I said, ‘Great, Bill. Come and do this track. Because Charlie’s on it and I’d like it to be reunited, the original rhythm section. [It] would be a cool idea.’”
You can pre-order Hackney Diamonds now.
