Re: Mick is in India for the cricket world cup
Date: November 15, 2023 18:13
On Jagger's second coming to Kolkata, a Rolling Stone finds a 'more developed' city
Priyanka Dasgupta / TNN / Updated: Nov 15, 2023, 05:08
The name's Jagger, Mick Jagger. The Rolling Stones frontman, back in Kolkata after a decade, talks exclusively to TOI about Kali Puja, pandal-hopping and how the city has changed... and how, at 80, he sounds like he's still in his prime in the band's new album, 'Hackney Diamonds'.
You recently posted a photograph with Martin Scorsese, who is a huge Sat-yajit Ray admirer. Have you watched any Ray film?
Yes, I've watched his films when I was young. I was a film buff in my 20s. It is that time when one is trying to absorb everything. I watched early Roman Polanski films. Ray was the most impressive.
How's Kolkata changed?
I was in Kolkata some 10-12 years ago. I was travelling in India then and I spent a week here. There is more pollution now. I don't want to be negative. Every city suffers from this problem. Visually, Kolkata looks much more developed. I am sure the heartbeat of the city remains the same.
You shared photos of 'Kali Pujo' on social media. Where did you visit?
I went to Kumartuli. I knew Diwali was coming up when I was planning to come. But I didn't actually know that these two festivals coincided. I reached Kumartuli and saw several pujas. We also went to the small idol workshops.
Does the iconic Rolling Stones tongue have a Kali connect?
Yes. My brother was an early traveller to India. He would give me some books to read. In 1969, I was looking for an image that was an eye-grabbing thing and I saw this image of a disembodied tongue of Kali. I thought it would be an inspiration. Then, designer John Pasche created this modernistic version of the tongue logo.
You finally saw the idol that inspired the iconic logo on Sunday!
Yes. It was a coincidence, since I didn't know that I would be seeing it when I came to Kolkata. I have one or two friends here who told me where to go. It was very noisy, of course. There were so many fireworks. I have never been to India on Diwali.
The lights were fantastic - some were very modernistic, some old-fashioned. It was a great mixture.
The Rolling Stones logo appeared on FC Barcelona jerseys for the El Clasico match. Does Rolling Stones have such plans with BCCI or any IPL teams?
When I came, I thought England might be in one of the semi-finals. But I have been in India for a couple of weeks and I knew that was not going to happen immediately. We don't have any relationship with any IPL team. I watch the IPL.
Is there any possibility of this jersey branding?
Who knows?
In 'Bite My Head Off', you collaborated with Paul McCartney. Both of you are so energetic and different from many older artistes who often change their performance style with age...
Yes, you could become more introspective, romantic, easy to listen to and do more ballads. But I never felt the need to do that. I like to sing ballads. There are three ballads in this album. Ever since 1964, we have been doing ballads. But I always like to do high-energy things.
How do you counter ageism?
By making an album that doesn't make you sound like you are 80!
How challenging is it to release an album that appeals to the generation of true-blue rock 'n' and roll fans, as well as to millennials?
You don't want to disappoint all those who have liked you for a long time. By using a producer like Andrew Watt and the way we mixed it, the soundscape seems like the record was made six months ago. If you place this record next to one done 20-30 years ago, the band is still the same. But the sonic landscape is totally different.
Some of the songs are traditional. You have a rock song like 'Angry'. It is a song that Rolling Stones fans can relate to. The Rolling Stones has never been a band that has been stuck in one groove.
We have always done ballads, rock songs and blues. I don't think people are surprised if we do something slightly different. They don't want a whole album of 'different-different', though personally, I wouldn't mind that.
How was your experience of recording 'Sound of Heaven' with Lady Gaga?
I didn't plan it as a duet with her. We were both working in the same studio in Los Angeles. We had worked earlier before on stage and knew each other. She came into the room to see what was going on. She started to sing with me. It was all very impromptu. Then I gave her the iPad with the lyrics on. She started singing the lyrics. We did that tape. We came back the next day and did some more. It was great fun working with her. She is a very capable singer. I didn't know she would sing that song like that. It is not easy for her. There are some very high notes. But she did an amazing job.
Have you heard any artiste from Kolkata?
I admire guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya a lot. I listened to him some years ago. I like his album, 'Live in Calcutta'.
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