Mick Jagger wishes he’d met Elvis Presley, thanks to some misguided advice from John Lennon.
The Rolling Stones frontman shared this regrettable tale on SiriusXM’s Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend. According to Jagger, John Lennon convinced him to avoid meeting Elvis Presley, a decision he now wishes he hadn’t made.
A Friendship with John Lennon
Jagger’s friendship with John Lennon was well-documented, with the two musicians bonding over their shared love of music and counterculture values. While they didn’t always see eye-to-eye – Lennon was a vocal critic of The Rolling Stones at times – their friendship remained strong until Lennon’s tragic death in 1980.
Despite his close relationship with Lennon, Jagger claims that the Beatle’s advice to avoid meeting Elvis had a lasting impact on him. Jagger’s reluctance to meet Elvis might be due to a mix of factors, including the pressure to maintain a rebellious image and the potential for his band to be overshadowed by one of the most iconic performers of the time.
What This Means
The significance of Jagger’s regret lies not in the missed encounter itself, but in the insight it provides into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the music industry during the 1960s and 1970s. The story highlights the power of advice and the lasting impact it can have on individuals and their careers.
This anecdote also serves as a reminder that even the most influential figures in music can be subject to their own biases and misgivings. In this case, John Lennon’s advice to Mick Jagger to avoid meeting Elvis Presley may have been rooted in his own insecurities and concerns about the cultural impact of their meeting.
Ultimately, Jagger’s regret is a poignant reminder that sometimes, it’s the things we don’t do that can be just as memorable as the things we do.
