Flashback: Mick Jagger's controversial 1978 interview

In this 1978 interview, Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger responds to the controversy surrounding the band's album "Some Girls," saying he thinks it "stinks" and warns their next project will be "even more racist and sexist."
Flashback: Mick Jagger's controversial 1978 interview watched by Mrtodayvideos6.

[@VLVanDerMerwe]

Mick clearly had more than one glass of wine and had been playing in the snow..

[@bullucsterteth7530]

Seeing that he's now nearly 80 and still jumping around for hours like somebody one third his age I'd take that as a recommendation.

[@takecareofyourshoess]

@@bullucsterteth7530 So....how many rock stars have died and/or had their lives ruined by drugs? Mick is an exception, understand how that works???? You go modeling your life decisions after exceptions, and see how long you live, lol.

[@1godonlyone119]

Yeah, maybe so, but the things he said were still hilarious -- I have gained admiration for him for having such a good sense of humor.

[@johndeere8594]

You may be on to something.

[@BreockJamesHeale]

@@takecareofyourshoess It's this thing called a joke

[@bobbytropo2314]

"Useless" is the funniest response you could possibly come up with for that question

[@joaquinvargas3915]

Totally. The standing up, the pause and the delivery were perfect. Ha!

[@seanolusina6058]

I know right. That was quintessentially British

[@boke75]

@God Speed That was my impression, too. Lol. Calling his butthole “useless” was priceless !

[@durift]

I thought he said “incest” lmao

[@ilya4759]

He was just high and messing around by saying the exact opposite. Useless is the opposite of helpful.

[@jupitermoongauge4055]

Jagger worrying that punk rock was making him irrelavent and pretending to be Johnny rotten.

[@MrAdster11]

That sounds spot on

[@bwdrums1]

Exactly !

[@jaydubya3698]

Yup. I'll bet if you ask him today if he remembers this interview and what he was thinking, he say something like, "Oh that was just a throwaway interview. I was just being sharp for sharp's sake, you know what I mean?"

[@zackzallie8735]

The Stones knew how to join 'em if you can't beat 'em lol

[@daddymuggle]

Around '77 ~' 78, Mick called punks 'poseurs'. (With reference to the Pistols, if I remember rightly). Johnny Rotten's response was, 'Only posers say "poseur"'.

[@dannyd1572]

This was a typical PUNK interview. Some Girls was an album that Keith said "Out punked the punks" and this is simply an intoxicated Mick trying to be anti-society (punk). Great show!

[@Itsa6stringthang]

He didn't really pull it off

[@peteormond3565]

Some Girls is a good album but it did not out punk the punks.

[@Piwork69]

Mick is too careful for this to be a slip of the tongue.

[@SlimEstrada]

@@Piwork69 There was some desperation in this manoeuvre...and the silly bondage gear was just plain silly

[@Pneuma3339]

That album was far from punk. “Miss you” is disco x 10

[@meangene98]

Some Girls was one of their best albums. “Miss You”, “Beast of Burden”, “Shattered”, “Some Girls”, “Just My Imagination”, all classics!

[@basd8045]

Agree

[@zacharyscott6779]

@@aMolleTargate that it is

[@gallisvinis3376]

true.... The Stones have been creative up to the 80's after it's another deal...

[@pogo9876]

"Before they make me run" is my favorite from Some Girls....If this interviewer only waited for the next album (the one after this), his assessment would've been completely valid.....Now that was something to complain about......

[@tylermcknight02]

i have the Some Girls original vinyl from the 70s

[@sgt.pepper1956]

Mick has always been funny. He is never serious. Very smart man and an inspiration!

[@lemurianchick]

He sounds drunk as a skunk.🍷🦨 😐

[@rubymorris44]

Damn straight, he is.

[@barbarawebb7185]

He is a showman.

[@1godonlyone119]

@@lemurianchick Yeah, probably. He's an adult, so he can get drunk if he feels like it.

[@baronzbimg]

@@1godonlyone119 Jagger is British. As in most of Europe, majority is at 18, not 21, so completely irrelevant

[@michaeldietrich7382]

Remember this is 1978 and the height of the Sex Pistols. It's camp! It's a put on! It's Mick trying to out punk the punks! The next interview he puts on the King's English and speaks like a Cambridge professor.

[@futureintime]

Revolver, you talking about the best frontman of rock and roll, of all time, stop being jealous you piece of shit. He's more man, and had more women than you in your pathetic existence.

[@petermills542]

Michael Dietrich. Yes, Keith long ago described Mick as " a great bunch of guys" ! Jagger has been able to move between the 'seedy bars' , the Arts, Politicians, & then Tea with the 'Higher Classes' most of his adult life! A truly remarkable man in fact. Oh yeah & he's written countless great songs & is one of the very best frontmen ever (Charlie certainly thinks so, but maybe he's a bit biased haha!!)

[@Bobpopsiculs]

The Queen's English*

[@shatteredimage167]

Michael Dietrich just be honest. That’s what Johnny Rotten would say, even though they had a feud.

[@stanharding-hill7057]

Daniel Paronetto chill man the guy was clearly just explaining why Mick was acting slightly out of character in this interview

[@rep1508]

Seems like Lou Reed took over his soul for this interviee

[@sithethilesgwentu3282]

I was thinking the same thing, Lou acts this way in almost all of his interviews lmao

[@zackzallie8735]

Mick Jagger and Lou Reed were the earliest punks before Johnny Rotten

[@bilbebop3693]

@nameless in no way was Dylan a punk.

[@jacobjames3920]

@@bilbebop3693 boo!

[@fede018]

@@bilbebop3693 search his press conference in San Francisco, I think. It has a million views

[@alphajava761]

Mick couldn't keep himself from smiling at the end. He tried to stand up out of camera to hide his face.

[@exert2020]

No. He was just drunk.

[@Sol_Solis]

I thought he's gonna fart

[@SoldierOfLoveForNow]

@@exert2020 okaay?

[@tmwcamden2751]

I wouldn't say he was responding to anything but the drugs.

[@cahg3871]

In the early 70’s,the Stones flew into Person Airport in Toronto.My uncle was the baggage handler tasked with getting them to their limo with their luggage.When my uncle went to leave after getting the stones squared away,Mick looked at him and said in a very proper English voice-“Thank you my good man” and then peeled off a hundred dollar bill.That was a lot of money back then.Mick Jagger may have been just playing here,but he sure was good to regular people.

[@69ramblers]

what a great comment to read, thx for sharing friend

[@Methilde]

Think the same.

[@andrewjackson3486]

If this story is true, it tells me all I need to know about him. 👍

[@douglasnewman2299]

I was a HS junior in 1977-78. I remember telling someone I thought the Stones were over the hill. Then they released "Some Girls" and here they are 45 years later. Mick turns 80 in a few days.

[@cupcakesansfrontier]

Here they are! Pal!

[@autumnrave9085]

He was 35 when this aired.... and that was 42 years ago🥺🥺🥺sad how our lives literally fly by...

[@Hellwyck]

Figuratively or metaphorically but not literally unless the time is an actual object with wings.

[@GreenHorseVR]

@@Hellwyck shut up

[@napadave58]

@@GreenHorseVR Hahaha. I hope that works.

[@hulksmash8159]

He only has a few more years...if that.

[@josephbeckmann8106]

Damn, I was one or two years old. Yeah, where does the time go? I heard all the songs off Some Girls in the late 70s to early 80s as a three to six year old from my uncles, aunts, mother and friends and of course the radio. Half my favorite Stone's songs are from that late 70s/early 80s era. Good memories. Had a wild ass family and wild ass early childhood and that was part of the soundtrack so good memories, even the bad ones now.

[@alejandroanibal4320]

The soundrack of this interview: Stoned Out of my mind Here I go Ah, yeah Where am I at? Yeah, yeah

[@ChuckMarteau]

He's bored, maybe a bit high, and he's being sarcastic

[@mrswimmyboy]

NOTHING CONTROVERSIAL HERE...

[@raavenstark5905]

He live in the same french small village as me. I see him sometimes just walking and enjoy his life. He is so calm and sweet nowadays ahah

[@kylebalmer3396]

Were is that

[@kingzippythethird]

@@kylebalmer3396 What do you mean?

[@jasonbent97]

Bonjour Diamond Jim!

[@Methilde]

@@kylebalmer3396In Vallée de la Loire where he was spending hollydays with his parents, so far from jetset.

[@dondamon4669]

Jaggers one of the funniest rock stars man 😂

[@1godonlyone119]

True -- that was fucking hilarious!

[@1godonlyone119]

@John Whocares Okay, nutcase -- whatever you say.

[@Elbowbanditest2003]

@John Whocares there's always one

[@lizwatkins3594]

Laughed out loud at his response to the last question. 🤣

[@Methilde]

I'm still laughing :) :) :)

[@Jesse-B]

When the interviewer takes every word as gospel and has no idea he's being mocked.

[@vicshrily]

Lol!..exactly!.. & to some of the commenters here

[@maxhammer4067]

Jagger Is the ultimate front man

[@alanjamesh.zamorano1677]

"If I wasn't under such heavy sedation"

[@NoStasis]

He exploded on stage. A flash of white light and then all that was left was a little green globule on the drum set. 🤯

[@bretthamilton7308]

Man that's the perfect quote.

[@Boblobblaw88]

Sometimes when an interviewer asks cliched questions you just get bored and annoyed and take a dump on his cassette recorder. (that part was cut out)

[@randyking3057]

BEST interview ever. It Stinks.

[@radar0412]

Mick knew that it didn't matter what he said, so he proceeded to say nothing. Brilliant.

[@tracylannum8099]

Micks fucking cool as fuck

[@Revolver1981]

Tracy lannum You must be joking.

[@ericred3731]

Awesome. The stones are the greatest by FAR! Of course Mick has matured slightly since this interview.

[@hkhilner]

Haha....Mick obviously had quite a bit to drink before this interview. He was very congenial with reporters on the tours from 1981 and after.

[@beggersbanquet-xt3xk]

1978 out punking the punks I dig the sex pistols but they couldn't hold a candle next to the stones.

[@UziSuicide1989]

In 1977 they could 😜

[@steveconn]

@@UziSuicide1989 atonal rubbish. As Keith said, it takes more than practicing spitting in the mirror.

[@UziSuicide1989]

steve conn The Pistols were about the MUSIC ! And in 1977 they released the album of the year. It kicks Some girls out of the park....I’m talking about ONE album, ONE year. (1977)

[@Vichedges]

Yeah right. The Pistols literally were influencing the Stones at this point in time. This interview for example. And Some Girls. I love old Stones stuff but they have been a cabaret act for decades now.

[@haumea420]

I don’t even give a shit! I will always love that guy🙌🏾💯❤️

[@danhermon4922]

Mick Jagger is one of the funniest people I ever heard. Many of his interviews over the decades have been hilarious. I don’t know why no one but me has ever remarked on his unique wit. I’d have loved to have heard his conversations with John Lennon.

[@papagreenemusic]

@Dan Hermon An interesting idea in theory, but there weren't any such witty conversations between Lennon & Jagger, who were never friends, only competitors. In fact, John Lennon, in conversations recorded with or without his knowledge, spared no derisive criticism of Mick Jagger, saying "I think Mick's a joke, with all that fag dancing...", that Jagger revived the ass-shaking of Elvis Presley which The Beatles had resigned themselves not to do, & also said that Jagger made dismissive, "tarty" remarks about The Beatles, whom Lennon alleged were closely copied & emulated by the Rolling Stones throughout their career. Whatever appearances the two made together, such as in the 1968 "Rock & Roll Circus" broadcast, were just show biz, set up by producers for big ratings, & on closer analysis reveal that they were not friends. As far as quick wit, ironic humor, word play, etc., & indeed also as a songwriter, Lennon was far greater than Jagger, like a giant & a dwarf.

[@harveyjamesdishingtonthomson]

@@papagreenemusic pretty sure they were pals. The stones were close with the Beatles. In Johns case, he was supposedly particularly close with Brian & Mick. That comment John made is from a famous interview where it seems like he’s just being candid, but I think he’s just being a complete bastard and contradicting himself. Being crushed under the weight of the chip on his shoulder as is so often the case

[@papagreenemusic]

@@harveyjamesdishingtonthomson They didn't get a lot of time to spend together... There was some interaction between the Beatles & the Stones, but they were all tighter within their own circles than with each other. Chip on shoulder or no, if Lennon said that the Stones copied the Beatles' every move, which may or may not have been fully true, still it reveals a bitter attitude about Jagger, doesn't sound too palsy-walsy... Whatever, Lennon & Jagger were more competitors than friends.

[@harveyjamesdishingtonthomson]

@@papagreenemusic they did though. Especially in the early days. They went to the same clubs, would regularly stay in contact as to prevent releasing singles/albums at the same time. You can even see jagger in the all you need is love video and Richards in the a day in the life video, as well as Brian Jones playing on yellow submarine and you know my name. I’m not saying they were best pals. But they hung out a lot, they all did. Not just the stones and the Beatles but also the animals and the who. This is just what we’ve been told anyway, there could plenty more that went on between that wasn’t worth noting. I’ve read book after book mate from reliable sources, there’s no arguing, it’s fact. Who cares if the stones imitated the Beatles, I liked satanic majesties. The stones imitating the Beatles is always going to sound different, they’re two totally different outfits. Just as the Beatles imitating bob dylan sounded different, or the beach boys imitating chuck berry: Who gives a fuck

[@harveyjamesdishingtonthomson]

@@papagreenemusic as much as I love discussing this topic and being educated or educating, I’ve got an issue with it tbh. At the end of the day we’re just a couple of fan girls and all it takes is somebody who was actually present with a valid point of view to come along and say ‘bullshit, that’s not what happened.’ We can only believe what we read but who knows. I’d love to know John Lennon’s every single fucking move when he was alive and how he sat on the toilet or if he drank Dr Pepper, but we’re only ever going to get a ‘best of’ about someone’s account of their memories, so to speak

[@carloslozada2121]

stones know how to play the game better than.anyone

[@lumpylumpyloo]

The simpsons season 6 treehouse of horror

[@danivey8540]

He was clearly drunk and being a smartass in response to these ridiculous, asinine questions. Good for him.

[@seethoseareyourtearsman.1758]

He was just having some fun lol

[@thewordisours8105]

i watch this everyday before school

[@debonaire_nerd]

*Mick:* "Ooohhh...Keef tends to shoot his mouth off when he's had a bit to drink" *Also Mick:* "(album) stinks. Wait until the next one...the next one will be more racist and more sexist and a whole bunch better" *Keef:* (takes a drag and a mouthful of popcorn) *Charlie:* (shrugs)

[@ericred3731]

Was is and always will be the greatest rock n roll band in the world!!! Usa USA USA

[@christianzafiroglu6705]

This is Mick taking the piss and showing the punks how it’s done. The questions are so pedestrian they invite mockery. “How does that make you feel?” is so elementary Mick’s answer is the only appropriate one. Also, he’s almost certainly high as heaven here.

[@NoName-jq7tj]

1978...He's competing the punk scene here possibly

[@Methilde]

No, the punk were already over.

[@Dougdimmadome3_]

The stones were punk before punk had been thought of, the stones basically made people want to rebel

[@1godonlyone119]

"Useless!" LOL!!I never realized how fucking funny Mick could be. That was fucking awesome -- I would have loved it if this interview was an hour long and he kept giving answers like those!

[@Turnitupluber]

You nailed it.

[@TheRick8866]

Most honest thing I’ve seen in a while

[@AntiEstablishmentRhetorician]

I've never been more inspired to listen to the Stones!

[@theonlyantony]

Where's the controversial bit? Burp.

[@shatteredimage167]

theonlyantony his remark about the “more sexist and racist”

[@trilljesse9237]

Snow Blind lmao he’s playing peeps like you

[@davedecker1725]

I was driving home early Sunday morning through Bakersfield listening to gospel music on the colored radio station and the preacher said "You know you'll ALWAYS HAVE THE LORD BY YOUR SIDE!" Well I was so pleased to be informed of this that I ran 20 red lights in his honor! Thank you Jesus! Thank you lawd!😆😆

[@martinmcdonald4207]

The Girl With, Well You Know What Kinda Eyes She's Got! Great album...Some Girls.

[@davedecker1725]

@@martinmcdonald4207 last great Stone's album

[@martinmcdonald4207]

@@davedecker1725 They really were in form. Didn't 'Some Girls' follow the brilliant 'Black and Blue.' They managed to stay relevant through out those mid to late 70's when music was a bit all over the place and lacking direction. They just did what they felt was right. And boy were they right. Timeless music is what they created for the generations to enjoy. R.I.P. Charlie.

[@andy8073]

Funny... I always thought he said college radio station. live and learn lol

[@tala954]

THE END--- PLEASE😭😭

[@christopherstein2024]

Tanks to apple bottom memes and "It's ok to leave a dog in a hot car" I was quite suspicious about thus being real.

[@definitiveenergy1]

Mick is the ultimate soul tripper.

[@thesnorman5666]

Jim Morrison

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales7218]

Michael Philip Jagger (Dartford, Kent; 26 de julio de 1943),[1]​conocido profesionalmente como Mick Jagger, es un cantante, compositor, músico y actor británico, reconocido por ser el principal cantante de la banda de rock The Rolling Stones. Su carrera abarca más de cinco décadas y ha sido descrito como "uno de los cantantes más populares e influyentes en la historia del rock & roll".[2]​ Por su distintiva voz y su puesta en escena, junto con el estilo de guitarra de Keith Richards, han sido la marca registrada de la banda durante toda su carrera. Con el tiempo, Jagger logró notoriedad en la prensa por su admitida relación con las drogas y sus polémicas relaciones personales, siendo nombrado a menudo como una figura contracultural.

[@steveconn]

Dealing with costly divorce and putting out a great album. MICK'S THE MAN!!

[@kalishakta]

Binaca Jagger. 😜

[@skgate]

it's all an illusion and you're talking to the magician baby

[@earthvessel952]

I don't think controversial is the right word...unless your goal is getting as many people as possible to watch

[@FreshCreativeFrog25]

The way he gets up, gets stopped by the mic, looks down, looks back up and says “useless.” 💀💀💀💀

[@OldHeathen1963]

The Original bad boys of Rock and Roll!

[@gabrielfloresrivero5656]

35? He looks so fresh for his age

[@witchflowers6942]

We’ve all had one of these days

[@donlofting4268]

Turns out to have been a very accurate self appraisal. Very mature

[@markwaters7215]

He’s fucking great ain’t he ! Keep on rockin mick !

[@mercedescortez222]

"useless."

[@knockitofff]

Been told by people that were in the Stones inner circle that it all depends on which Mick you get day to day.......he's obviously fucked up too LOL!

[@qriminal1648]

How is this interview “controversial”?

[@richardphillips6392]

Ruddy hell! This was so controversial I nearly had a rectal prolapse! Shouldn't this clip come with some really serious warning?

[@wllms984]

When you know you’re the GOAT and just rollin with the punches!

[@theparalexview785]

Having done a few lame interviews with musicians back then, I now sympathize with Mick. His final word in this clip sums up most rock music interviews, including my own: useless.

[@jacobzaranyika9334]

Thank you 🙏

[@anenglishpremierfootballer]

This man has been my idol since middle school and this snippet only fortifies that

[@dezc-h5490]

So great.

[@beggersbanquet-xt3xk]

They have survived every trend of music that has came out they have dabbled in some of it disco Punk reggae heavy metal techno music grunge alternative but they stuck to their rock and roll roots

[@joegideon8461]

Life before PC cancel culture

[@tstass1321]

Yet they still kick ass

[@petermills2061]

This American 'mainstream' response to the latest example of Stones "controversy" is hilarious & advertises the band for free! And that's why Jagger does it of course!!! The Stones love America but have always 'played you lot like a fiddle' as the saying goes in Britain!

[@jerrypeters2095]

Yeah because they never created controversy in Britain right.

[@yavehsuarez9392]

He was partaking in some Italian red and some Colombian white.

[@treychiri1607]

The captions be like. Reporter: how does that make you feel? Mick jagger: This is

[@weementaldavy5987]

Just for the record , it was Brian Jones's group mate . All clear now ?

[@nomorebushz]

Touchy ...

[@weementaldavy5987]

@@nomorebushz Is he ? I've seen him perform live but i've never met him .

[@deankett7]

Bob Dylan was the original punk when it came to interviews.

[@chriswinter8255]

Mick Jagger is not the Stones. He's one of 5, nothing more, nothing less.

[@SimonMooreChannel]

This guy could have been a star if he had any talent and will..

[@galagatron5319]

Oh the controversy. How will we surrvive.

[@adonaiyah2196]

This is Harry Styles in 8 years

[@fabriziofederico9487]

It wasnt a punk album at all, was full of disco and ballads

[@Dempsey222]

the useless line was hysterical.

[@puplover7991]

OMG...Mick, LOL. He could never hide his drug use!

[@dmzabo3914]

@pup lover, why should he? It’s not like he had to take a monthly drug test for his employer? lol.

[@dmzabo3914]

Where’s the rest of it wtf.

[@flockofwolves]

I remember this, this was when Mick couldn’t get no satisfaction.

[@jst-c1372]

I thought he was going to get up and fart at the end when he asked how did it make him feel.

[@UndergroundSkat2000]

He's trying to stir people up who are overly sensitive. It's called attitude.

[@LeonNikkidude]

A bit coked up and in foul mood!Nevertheless Some Girls remains as one of their great albums maybe their greatest 70s album or at least disco era album.I wish that kind of music was back in vogue!

[@Vichedges]

No he was just imitating Johnny Rotten and other punks. Mick is just jumping on what was trendy at the time.

[@leonardobrien]

@@Vichedges or rather he was taking the piss out of [silly] Rotten et al.

[@chalklounge]

Loaded on smack. The 1978 viewing public probably no idea idea what to do with that.

[@jb6971]

The worst mistake Jagger made was to let Goldstein do the interview!

[@SinisterElements]

I won't be able to sleep tonight now

[@bowiezombie69]

Mick after he heard The Clash sing the line "No Elvis, Beatles or The Rolling Stones"

[@franktheo2055]

When I was a teenager in 1978 and I hear Miss You I was so disappointed and I said to myself oh no The Stones sold out to disco. So I bought the single to hear the B-side and it was Faraway Eyes and said to myself WTF, they went from disco to a country song. When WNEW FM in NYC played Some Girls for the first time in it's entirety and played the title cut uncut without bleeping out Black Girls Just Wanna Get Fucked All Night - I Just Don't Have That Much Jam. Me and my high school buddies Couldn't Stop Laughing Our Ass's Off !! When they played I Just Give It Away On 7th Avenue This Town's Where It Tatters I looked Up At The Sky With A Big Smile And Said yes There Is A God ! Jagger said the next one would be more sexist and a whole bunch better. If The Rolling Stones could have toped Some Girls for their next album I would've died laughing.

[@moncorp1]

This towns wearing tatters fify

[@franktheo2055]

@@moncorp1 Yep, Shadoobie - LOL !

[@reimourrpower9357]

The Stones were neandrathals so selling to morons was easy.

[@franktheo2055]

@@reimourrpower9357 It was great growing up during the 1960's - and throughout listing to all the rock bands and learning about the music they listened to that inspired them. If there was no Rolling Stones I'd never heard of Chuck Berry, Bo Diddly, Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Slim Harpo and so on. The Greatness of it all, Yep.

[@robertgarriott5958]

Charlie watts died today from the future to 1978

[@redimade]

that last bit made me laugh

[@docfaceful]

You can see he's almost laughing,and he is funny.he's pretending to give attitude like he's either age 20 or age 85.

[@dwightclark7627]

"Cocaine is a helluva drug." Glad Mick is still with us in 2021.

[@bobbytropo2314]

Damn RIP Charlie man

[@sgt.thundercok4704]

Eh, he would have been less sluggish if on coke.

[@sgt.thundercok4704]

@WALK IN MY SHADOW It's spelled 'heroin' and no, that was never his bag, baby.

[@dwightclark7627]

@WALK IN MY SHADOW Cociane

[@CS-ki3sh]

God I love him

[@ezsmith3765]

🤔 🤔🤔 John Lennon or Paul McCartney must’ve done a very similar interview a week or 2 prior to this.

[@Piwork69]

My first impression of Mick’s first words? He’s doing his best Johnny Rotten imitation.

[@tomwilko7841]

Exactly! Also Fred armison/Ian rubbish must have seen this clip🤣

[@More-Cowbell-SlideGuitar-Harp]

Mick in this interview reminds me of Jermaine, from Flight of the Conchords

[@silverapples75]

Much overlooked what a funny fucker Jagger is, bloody love him. 🤣❤💋👄🎸