Mick Jagger About Touring At 78: ‘Not Supposed To Be Done’ At This Age

Mick Jagger discusses touring at his age

Rolling Stones co-founder Mick Jagger started touring, performing, and writing music in 1960. He’s been doing it ever since, resulting in six decades of work with Jagger himself now 78 years old. In addition to the mental fortitude required to create and perform music correctly, this line of work also demands a lot of movement from Jagger, something he says can feel like a challenge to maintain.

Jagger spoke recently with the Sunday Times about continuing to tour with the Rolling Stones even as he nears eighty. He opened up about the hardships of such an endeavor year after year, what he has to pull off for each performance, and how he keeps his mind and body fit for the job.

Mick Jagger reveals the hardships of touring at his age

The Rolling Stones have been at this for a while / Everett Collection

60 years of performing and touring have given the Rolling Stones six decades of building a musical empire – and some aches and fatigue. “Rock ’n’ roll, or any kind of pop music honestly, isn’t supposed to be done when you’re in your 70s,” admits Jagger, whose songwriting with Keith Richards is one of the most celebrated in the industry, supplemented by his work as lead vocalist. Keeping this pace up means gritting their teeth and thinking creatively.

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Jagger continues, “It wasn’t designed for that. Doing anything high-energy at this age is really pushing it. But that makes it even more challenging. So it’s, like, ‘OK, we’ve got to f—ing do this right,’ but it’s got to be as full-on as possible. Of course, you could do another type of music — we’ve got lots of ballads. I could sit on a chair.”

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Jagger says emotional maturity has helped him and his bandmates when touring / Everett Collection

Getting ready for touring means practicing for six weeks, and that’s even before rehearsals formally start, says Jagger. He also shares, “I do dancing, gym, every day of the week. I don’t enjoy it very much, but it has to be done.” Back in 2019, Jagger underwent heart valve replacement surgery, and since then he has also traveled with a cardiologist.

Jagger says that age also means “getting more mature,” which has helped him and his bandmates make some of these important choices. He has come to learn that just because “We’re in a very immature business,” that “doesn’t mean that you have to be immature.” That’s helped keep things more manageable while still working.