Mick Jagger Remembers B.B. King, Names Favorite Rapper
The Rolling Stones took a break from rehearsing for their 15-date Zip Code tour to answer a few fan questions via Twitter Monday. In between questions about their hair and the Sticky Fingers recording sessions, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards spoke briefly about the passing of blues legend B.B. King.
Both Jagger and Richards responded to separate questions about King’s influence and best work. “I was just looking at a picture of me and B.B. backstage at Madison Square Garden [in 1969],” the singer recalled. “He played with us at a lot of gigs on that tour. We last played with him in a blues concert at the White House. It’s sad. He had such a huge, long career. It’s sad that we won’t be listening to him live anymore.”
A fan also asked Jagger to name his favorite King song. “He had so many recordings. It’s difficult to choose,” he said before noting that Live at the Regal had been popular among his peers when they were younger.
When asked for a comment on King’s life and music, Richards called the fellow guitarist “one of the greats.” “B.B. was a great guy. He was one of the true gentlemen, and I shall miss him a lot,” he said. “At least we have his records. Farewell, B.B.”
Other highlights included drummer Charlie Watts discussing his disinterest with social media, guitarist Ron Wood detailing how he maintains his hair (he cuts it every day) and Jagger naming his favorite rappers. “Vybz Collins and I guess Jay-Z,” Jagger offered (though he meant Vybz Kartel). The singer complimented Jay-Z’s “whole body of work” and “great tunes” before noting Kartel’s dancehall appeal.
Jagger also gave a sneak peek at the vinyl reissue of Sticky Fingers, which includes both the original recording and a live album with extras, including an Eric Clapton cover of “Brown Sugar.” The physical package includes a zipper on the cover similar to the original vinyl.