12 September 2007 - from the Bexley Times
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www.bexleytimes.co.uk]
Family matters for Jagger duo
CHRIS Jagger, brother of Rolling Stones legend Sir Mick Jagger has not ruled out the possibility of an impromptu duet when he returns to his roots this autumn.
He spoke exclusively to the Times ahead of his gig with band Atcha! at the Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford on November 16.
In May the Stones' vocalist joined Chris, a Kentish Times columnist, on stage for the first time at the Bull's Head pub, Barnes. Their performance of Dead Flowers drew more than 100,000 hits on internet video site YouTube in one weekend.
Chris said: "He happened to step in at the pub and said 'what do you want to sing?' so I chose Dead Flowers.
"We also sang DJ Blues which was recorded as a duet between us on my band's latest album Act of Faith."
Act of Faith has cemented Chris Jagger's reputation as a jazzy blues songwriter and his band's performance of blues and zydeco with funk at the Montreal Jazz Festival in July was critically acclaimed.
Chris said: "DJ Blues was the last song on the album, I wanted to write something we could both sing.
"I sent off a rough version to Mick and he gave the seal of approval, he's a pro and wasn't going to sing anything that would make him look a twit."
Both Mick and Chris grew up at the family home in Wilmington, with Chris studying at Eltham College and Sir Mick at Dartford Grammar School.
Now living in Somerset, Chris Jagger says he is looking forward to returning to his childhood stomping ground.
He said: "I'll probably make a tour of my childhood haunts around Wilmington. I went to Wentworth primary school and can remember cycling home in the dark through the depths of winter.
"I was an 11-plus exam failure. My father who taught PE at Dartford Grammar didn't have a very good opinion of secondary modern schools so he wangled me in to Eltham College in Mottingham. I was a boarder for a while, I hated it because you lose your freedom."
One friend helped him through the experience, John Willis, son of the famous Dixon of Dock Green screenwriter, Ted Willis.
He added: "People who went to my school have approached me after gigs from Adelaide to Lancashire and they come out with these stories that I forgot years ago."
Speaking about a second public duet with his famous brother, who is now kicking his heels after the end of the Stones' A Bigger Bang world tour, he said: "It's certainly not out of the question he may turn up in Dartford.
"One thing is for sure, he wouldn't announce it in advance."
martin.sawden@archant.co.uk