Mick Jagger, the 82-year-old frontman of the Rolling Stones, stated that his primary role as an entertainer is to ensure his audience has the best possible time during his performances. Speaking on The New York Times podcast "The Interview," Jagger emphasized that his concerts are an opportunity for fans to momentarily set aside their problems and worries.
"I mean, the bottom line of my thing is really that my job in the live music world is just those people that come to have the best time they possibly can, and for two hours or whatever it is to forget all their problems and the problems of the world and their mortgages and their whatever," Jagger said. He drew a parallel to attending a sports event, where the focus is solely on the competition.
While Jagger believes his concerts should not be a platform for lecturing, he acknowledged incorporating political or social commentary into his song lyrics as a learned technique. "I've also got into this habit of doing songs that are about personal relationships, and then I throw a verse about politics in there," he explained, noting that audiences may not want to hear an entire song dedicated to such topics.
However, this stance on not lecturing did not prevent a public exchange in May 2024. During a performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Jagger addressed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry by name, remarking, "We're a welcoming crowd, aren't we? I hope Mr. Landry is enjoying the show. He's real inclusive you know. He's trying to take us back to the Stone Age."
Governor Landry responded on social media platform X, quoting the Rolling Stones' hit song "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and stating, "The only person who might remember the Stone Age is Mick Jagger. Love you buddy, you’re always welcome in Louisiana! #LoveMyCountryMusic."