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Mick Jagger Explains Major Differences Between Rivalries with David Bowie and John Lennon
🇷🇸 Serbia /Culture & Society

Mick Jagger Explains Major Differences Between Rivalries with David Bowie and John Lennon

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Mick Jagger discussed his competitive relationships with the late David Bowie and John Lennon.
  • He described his dynamic with Bowie as a mutual, though Bowie was more intensely competitive, pushing Jagger to reciprocate.
  • Jagger characterized his rivalry with Lennon as primarily verbal and sarcastic, focused on wit and humor.

Mick Jagger has offered a candid look into his competitive friendships with music legends David Bowie and John Lennon, highlighting the distinct nature of their rivalries.

Yes, we were competitive. David was very competitive, much more so than me. He brought out that competitive spirit in me. He was so competitive that I had to match him.

— Mick JaggerDescribing his competitive relationship with David Bowie.

Recalling his bond with Bowie, which intensified in the 1980s when both lived in New York, Jagger noted their shared competitive spirit. "David was very competitive, much more so than me," Jagger said in the podcast 'Conan Needs A Friend.' "He brought out that competitive spirit in me. He was so competitive that I had to match him."

Jagger also touched on Bowie's constant evolution, observing, "There isn't just one David Bowie. He gradually evolved, and then suddenly there would be a big shift to some new David Bowie, a new style." He recalled telling Bowie that his song "The Jean Genie" sounded like a Stones' pastiche, to which Bowie allegedly replied, "Yes, I know, mate, I know, but it's a tribute to you."

There isn't just one David Bowie. He gradually evolved, and then suddenly there would be a big shift to some new David Bowie, a new style.

— Mick JaggerDiscussing David Bowie's constant artistic transformation.

The Rolling Stones frontman described his dynamic with John Lennon as different, rooted in "sarcasm" and "verbal sparring." He pointed to a famous 1966 recording of Lennon and Bob Dylan in a taxi, noting Lennon's sharp, sarcastic remarks towards Dylan. "That's John in his most recognizable form," Jagger remarked. "He's very sarcastic towards Bob, and Bob doesn't exactly return witty answers."

I said to him: 'God, you've stolen all my licks.' And he didn't even try to deny it. He just replied: 'Yes, I know, mate, I know, but it's a tribute to you.'

— Mick JaggerRecounting a conversation with David Bowie about the song 'The Jean Genie.'

While acknowledging Lennon could be "wonderful," Jagger added that Lennon was quick to call out foolishness. "He was one of those people who would immediately stop you if you said something stupid. He'd notice it immediately." Jagger concluded that Lennon's competitiveness was primarily confined to "who is wittier and more sarcastic," suggesting it might be a "Liverpool trait."

I think John Lennon and I were also very competitive. But with us, it came down to sarcasm. It was verbal sparring.

— Mick JaggerComparing his rivalry with John Lennon to that with David Bowie.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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