When Mick Jagger vowed to make the most racist, most sexist and best Rolling Stones record
One of the most challenging dilemmas faced by consumers is the “separating the art from the artist” debate, which is nearly impossible to avoid. Mick Jagger undeniably stands as a musical legend, revered for his creativity, artistry, and cultural influence. However, when considering him as a person, should we elevate him to the same pedestal?
In the 1970s and 1980s, being edgy in interviews was the rock ‘n’ roll norm. If celebrities weren’t calling out prejudice and bigotry, they were getting tangled up in it themselves, whether they meant to or not. Plenty of these stars loved soaking up the spotlight, with their carefree attitude becoming a big part of their whole image.
And this doesn’t just mean saying the wrong thing at the wrong time – a lot of the punk mentality was to challenge the establishment. If this wasn’t your thing, however, it was way more amusing to act like you were a part of it. One of Jagger’s most controversial interviews occurred in 1978 when he sat down with NBC News to discuss Some Girls. The rock star was clearly already in a hostile mood, as he barely let the interviewer finish his question before saying the album “stinks”.
When asked if he thought it was racist and sexist, Jagger sneered before slurring the words, “The next one is going to be more racist and more sexist. It’s going to be a whole bunch better”. Sure, back then, this likely rubbed plenty of people the wrong way, but it was all the rage—a facade stars put on to either indicate indifference or to appear cooler than they actually were. For Jagger fans, it might be entertaining to watch and perhaps more keenly read as a snub to the critics of his work that minority groups, but ultimately, it just comes off as immature.
Although still hugely popular, The Rolling Stones have had their share of external criticism over the years, with many deeming their songs too offensive or inappropriate to be acceptable. For instance, one of their rightfully forgotten songs “ended up on the ash heap of history—where it belonged all along,” as Far Out previously stated. In fact, it wasn’t supposed to reach ears at all, but an error in The Rolling Stones Story – Part 2 exposed its existence.
Moreover, many deem ‘Brown Sugar’ to be a racist song, partially due to its original title but also because of its unquestionably problematic subject matter as the lyrics seemingly fetishise the “other”, relishing in the offensiveness of its own existence rather than applying the appropriate level of gravity to an intensely disturbing reality.
