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Mick Jagger Confirms: “There’s Nothing Good” About Getting Older
Mick Jagger has bluntly declared there is "nothing good" about getting older, telling the New York Times' The Interview podcast that ageing brings no compensating wisdom, only forgetfulness and physical decline. The comments from the 82-year-old Rolling Stones frontman come shortly after bandmate Keith Richards shared his own thoughts on longevity, adding to a run of candid reflections from the veteran rockers on ageing and mortality.
Jagger said he no longer moves as quickly as he'd like and must now be more careful physically, even though he can still do most things. He also touched on how decades of fame have left him somewhat "disassociated" from ordinary life and other people, suggesting his experience of ageing may be compounded by the isolating effects of long-term celebrity. The remarks come as the Rolling Stones have just released their 25th studio album, Foreign Tongues, with Jagger also hinting he may have already played his last concert with the band.
In short
- Mick Jagger says ageing has "nothing good" about it
- He cites lost wisdom, slower body, forgetfulness
- Comes as Stones release 25th album, Foreign Tongues
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Physical and cognitive decline represent measurable, irreversible losses experienced daily – reduced strength, memory lapses, slower processing, mounting health complications. Whilst some suggest accumulated wisdom compensates for these losses, this cannot restore the lived vitality that defined one's adult life. The losses are concrete and immediate; claimed compensations remain largely abstract and insufficient to balance the genuine deterioration one experiences.
The case against
Many older people attest that ageing genuinely brings meaningful benefits that offset physical decline: freedom from youthful status-anxiety, deeper understanding of what truly matters, richer relationships built across decades, and often profound peace from accepting mortality. These represent authentic flourishing rather than mere philosophical consolation, and dismissing them entirely denies the genuine testimony of countless people about their own lives and experiences.
Explained simply
Mick Jagger is the lead singer of the Rolling Stones, one of the world's most famous rock bands. The Rolling Stones were formed in the 1960s and have remained active for over six decades, making them one of the longest-running acts in music history. Jagger, now 82, has maintained a high-profile career throughout this period and remains one of the most recognisable figures in global popular culture.
The Rolling Stones are known for their members speaking openly about their lives, and they have continued to perform and record new music well into their later years. Jagger's reflections on ageing come at a time when the band has just released a new album, continuing their active presence in the music industry. His perspectives are of interest partly because very few performers have careers that span as many decades as his has.
Questions about how people experience ageing, particularly those in high-profile careers, have become more common in public discourse. Jagger's comments contribute to these conversations by offering perspective from someone with a long and sustained career in the entertainment industry. His remarks reflect broader societal interest in what it means to continue working at an advanced age and how people navigate the physical and mental aspects of growing older.