Keith Richards’ brutal assessment of Mick Jagger’s solo career: “He really had nothing to say”
Over the last 60 years, The Rolling Stones have evolved consistently and grown from another emerging band in London’s vibrant music scene to a rock ‘n’ roll institution. Their iconic tongue logo is more well-known than the flags of countless countries across the globe, which is a feat that no other band can compete with.
For all their vast achievements, whether this is having their first number-one hit in 1964 with ‘It’s All Over Now’ or winning the Grammy for ‘Best Rock Album’ in 2025 with Hackney Diamonds, none of their members have flown the nest with flying colours. Despite his best efforts, frontman Mick Jagger failed to establish himself as a megastar outside The Rolling Stones. For whatever reason, something doesn’t translate when the singer is taken out of the comforts of his band and backed by his right-hand man, Keith Richards.
Jagger began his solo career in 1985 with his debut outing, She’s The Boss, which received mixed reviews from critics. Since then, he’s released three more albums, with his most recent coming in 2001 with Goddess In The Doorway.
For that album, The Stones singer recruited a series of famous associates to participate in the sessions, including Pete Townshend, Bono, Lenny Kravitz, and Joe Perry. It was a shift, sonically speaking, from his bread and butter. Creatively, this decision allowed Jagger to test himself in a way he couldn’t do with The Rolling Stones and circumvent receiving artistic permission from Richards.
Admittedly, Richards has also regularly dabbled in the sphere of solo work throughout the years. However, this was never because the guitarist fostered any grand ambitions to steal the limelight. Instead, after Jagger went solo, Richards put his spare time to good use by getting in on the act and expressing himself in the studio. “I only did my records because [Jagger] wasn’t working with us,” he told GQ in 2015. “[Jagger’s solo records] had something to do with ego. He really had nothing to say. What did he have, two albums? She’s the Boss and Primitive Cool?”
Richards’ brutal assessment only continued to get more scathing. He then asked the reporter if he’d ever persevered in listening to an entire album of Jagger’s solo work, and when he responded by saying, “No,” Keef added, “Nor have I. I’ll leave it at that”.
The guitarist knows full well that Jagger has released more than two solo albums because he’s previously referred to his other records by name. Although, it must be said, he deliberately got the project’s title incorrect as another way to poke fun at his long-suffering friend. Speaking to Guitar World in 2002, Keith said: “I think that everybody — with the possible exception of Mick himself — has learned the lesson that Mick Jagger’s really good when he’s with The Rolling Stones. But when he ain’t, I don’t think anybody gives a fucking toss. Whether he gets the message or not. Obviously, he does.”
Notably, the interview above was given shortly after the release of Goddess in the Doorway. When asked for his thoughts on the album, Richards replied: “What, Dog Shit in the Doorway? I listened to three tracks and gave up on it. Sometimes you wonder. With the Stones he’s great. It’s best to keep him on a short leash”.
Perhaps Jagger did obtain the message because he hasn’t released another body of solo work since his bandmate shared his unfiltered opinion. However, he once again experimented outside of The Rolling Stones with the ill-fated supergroup SuperHeavy in 2011, which failed to get pulses racing. The occasional faux pas are insignificant compared to the wealth of successes that Jagger has enjoyed throughout his career with The Rolling Stones. He’s the archetypal rock ‘n’ roll frontman who found the perfect vessel for his sound at an early age, and despite his multiple efforts, Jagger needs The Rolling Stones beside him to fulfil his potential. Conversely, without Jagger, Richards is also nothing.
