During a recent podcast appearance with Conan O'Brien, Mick Jagger reflected on the nature of his competitive relationships with two rock giants. He characterized his dynamic with David Bowie as rooted in mutual creative drive, where Bowie's relentless pursuit of artistic transformation inspired Jagger to embrace similar intensity. Their friendship in 1980s New York culminated in the famous collaboration 'Dancing In The Street', though Jagger acknowledged Bowie freely borrowed stylistic elements from his work whilst framing it as homage.

Jagger's rivalry with John Lennon operated on a different plane, built around sardonic humour and verbal wit rather than musical competition. He portrayed Lennon as exceptionally perceptive at catching careless or foolish statements, attributing this sharp-edged sarcasm to Lennon's Liverpool roots. Jagger also revealed that Lennon had counselled him against meeting Elvis Presley, counsel Jagger heeded. The Rolling Stones' latest album 'Foreign Tongues' has recently been released with guest appearances from established artists.