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The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger says there’s “nothing good” about getting older
Mick Jagger has said there is "nothing good" about growing older, rejecting the notion that age brings wisdom, in a candid interview with The New York Times podcast The Interview. The 82-year-old Rolling Stones frontman spoke about the physical and mental toll of ageing, as well as how decades of fame have left him feeling disconnected from ordinary life, offering a rare moment of introspection from a musician still actively performing and recording.
Jagger said that instead of gaining wisdom with age, "you forget everything", adding that he could no longer do things as quickly or freely as before. He also reflected on how over 60 years of fame have made him feel "disassociated" from others, saying he tries to stay grounded by walking the streets alone. The comments follow the Stones' 25th studio album, 'Foreign Tongues', released on 10 July, which became their 15th UK Number One, level with The Beatles; Jagger has said he has already begun writing new material and hopes the band will tour again in 2027.
In short
- Jagger says ageing brings no wisdom, only forgetfulness and slowing down
- Comments came in a New York Times podcast interview
- Follows Stones' chart-topping new album; 2027 tour hoped for
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Those sympathetic to Jagger's view emphasise the undeniable physical and cognitive losses that accompany ageing, particularly acute for someone who built a career on physical vitality and performance. They note that after decades of intense fame, the disconnection from ordinary human experience becomes nearly permanent, and the forgetfulness and reduced capability he describes represent genuine hardships with limited compensatory rewards.
The case against
Those who would push back suggest that whilst physical decline is real, ageing brings authentic goods often undervalued—including deeper self-knowledge, freedom from status anxiety, the satisfaction of a completed body of work, and the particular richness of mentoring younger artists and watching a legacy unfold. They might argue that Jagger's perspective, though understandable given his singular trajectory, reflects his particular melancholy rather than the universal human experience of ageing.
Explained simply
Mick Jagger is the lead singer of The Rolling Stones, one of rock's most iconic and enduring bands. At 82, he continues to perform and record, which helps explain why his recent reflections on ageing have drawn attention.
In a recent interview, Jagger rejected the common belief that age brings wisdom. He spoke instead about the downsides of growing older, including memory loss and the physical slowing that comes with time.
Beyond physical effects, Jagger reflected on how more than six decades of international fame have left him feeling distanced from everyday life. He has tried to stay grounded by occasionally walking alone in public, though he acknowledged how difficult such normality remains.