The Rolling Stones is 50

I do not recall where I found the quote but it was something from pop diva Cher. She said, “Some guy said to me: ‘Don’t you think you’re too old to sing rock and roll?’ I said: You’d better check with Mick Jagger.” Cher is now 68 years old.

Here is another quote. This time around from Mick himself in the lyric to a song he wrote. “What a drag it is getting old” from Mother’s Little Helper, which was about the little yellow pill that helps mothers get through their stressful days.

Or what about that famous one, also from Mick that came from a long ago interview? He was quoted as saying that he would rather be dead than sing Satisfaction when he is 45 years old. Back then it was okay for the likes of Frank Sinatra to age gracefully and still sing his old songs. Rockers though, were supposed to be young and it was inconceivable for them to sing Satisfaction when they get to 45.

Last year was the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones, the group that the young guitarist Brian Jones formed with his friends, vocalist Mick, Keith Richards on guitar and vocals, Charlie Watts on drums, Bill Wyman on bass and Ian Stewart on the piano in 1962. Jones tragically died in a drowning accident in 1969.

To celebrate this momentous year, the remaining members Mick, Keith, Charlie and guitarist Ron Wood who became a Stone in 1975, recorded two new songs, Doom And Gloom composed by Mick, and One More Shot, written by Keith, released an album titled, Grrr! made up of their hit songs and then went on another successful tour. The 60 and 70 something rockers sold out arenas everywhere.

Mick is now 69. Of course, he sang (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, clad in tight black pants. He did not complain at all. There was no escaping it. The song was one of the band’s biggest hits and the fans wanted to watch them do it live again, as well as many others. Growing old in his case is certainly not a drag. Not when you also have kids agape over finding out how the Jagger of the Maroon 5 song moves live.

The Rolling Stones has sold over 200 million records during this past 50 years. They had been named the greatest rock and roll band in the world. Take note the Beatles lasted for only seven years. Elvis stayed around for less than 20. But the Stones, the acknowledged bad boys of pop music, have been around for 50 years and still counting.

Mick and Keith, often called the Katzenjammer boys of rock because they were almost always up to mischief, lived the life. And to a less visible degree so did the other members. Sex, drugs and rock and roll. They are now rich, famous and surprise, because nobody thought it would happen, they have also become respected musicians.

When you get down to brass tacks, you realize the reason why. The Stones reached maturity because they never allowed egos to interfere with the band. Remember one reason for the Beatles’ split was because the other members did not like Yoko Ono. Sure, the Stones had fights, but the music and the fans always took precedence.

That is what Grrr! is about. Great Rolling Stones music for the fans. Here is a three-disc collection of the band’s biggest hits for them to treasure. It is quite a line-up. It starts with Come On, the Chuck Berry song that became the Stone’s first hit record in 1963. At the end are last year’s harvest, Doom And Gloom and One More Shot. In between is rock and roll history that can be achingly sweet like, As Tears Go By or raw and forceful like Sympathy For The Devil and performed unlike any other.

Not Fade Away, It”s All Over Now, Little Red Rooster, The Last Time, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, Time Is On My Side, Get Off My Cloud, Heart Of Stone, 19th Nervous Breakdown, Paint It Black, Under My Thumb, Ruby Tuesday, Let’s Spend The Night Together, We Love You, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Honky Tonk Women, Gimme Shelter, Wild Horses, Brown Sugar, It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll, Fool To Cry, Miss You, Harlem Shuffle, etc.