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Mick Jagger
„Skákavý Jack Flash“? Pouliční rváč? Půlnoční tulák? Boháč a chlap, co má vkus? Zdá se, že je všechno dohromady a ještě mnohem, mnohem víc. Podle jakékoli definice je Mick Jagger originál, jedna z dominantních postav kultury naší doby. Chvástá se, předvádí, někdy působí zlověstně a neustále fascinuje. Před půlstoletím nás popadl pod krkem a - na rozdíl od tolika svých nadaných přátel - už nás nikdy nepustil. Po desítky let si Mick svoje četná šokující tajemství žárlivě střežil - až doposud. Novinář z New York Times a prvotřídní autor bestsellerů Christopher Andersen při příležitosti 50. výročí Rolling Stones strhává masku nejkomplikovanější a nejzáhadnější rockové ikoně v životopisu, který nic neskrývá a nelze ho ignorovat stejně jakoJaggera samotného. MICK vznikl na základě rozhovorů s přáteli, členy rodiny, ostatními hudebními legendami i znalci hudebního průmyslu - a také s manželkami a dlouhým zástupem milenek. Vrhá tak nové světlo na člověka, jehož jméno samo o sobě definuje jednu éru.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2012
105 people are currently reading
631 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Andersen
56 books214 followersLibrarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Christopher Peter Andersen is an American journalist and the author of 32 books, including many bestsellers. A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Andersen joined the staff of Time Magazine as a contributing editor in 1969. From 1974 to 1986 Andersen was senior editor of Time Incorporated's People Magazine. He has also written for a wide range of publications, including The New York Times, The New York Daily News, Life, and Vanity Fair.
While his early nonfiction books veered from psychology (The Name Game) to true crime (The Serpent's Tooth) to art collecting ('The Best of Everything', with former Sotheby's chairman John Marion), he is best known for his controversial biographies. Between 1991 and 2011, he published 14 New York Times bestselling biographies. Andersen wrote Mick: The Wild Life and Mad Genius of Jagger to mark the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones in July 2012. The book quickly became Andersen's 15th New York Times bestseller.
Christopher Peter Andersen is an American journalist and the author of 32 books, including many bestsellers. A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Andersen joined the staff of Time Magazine as a contributing editor in 1969. From 1974 to 1986 Andersen was senior editor of Time Incorporated's People Magazine. He has also written for a wide range of publications, including The New York Times, The New York Daily News, Life, and Vanity Fair.
While his early nonfiction books veered from psychology (The Name Game) to true crime (The Serpent's Tooth) to art collecting ('The Best of Everything', with former Sotheby's chairman John Marion), he is best known for his controversial biographies. Between 1991 and 2011, he published 14 New York Times bestselling biographies. Andersen wrote Mick: The Wild Life and Mad Genius of Jagger to mark the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones in July 2012. The book quickly became Andersen's 15th New York Times bestseller.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
August 16, 2012
Perhaps a little too much focus on Mick's attempt to bed every living human being regardless of gender. I wish it would have spent a little more time on the music and his collaboration with Keith Richards. As earlier mentioned, a little tabloid-esque. Richard's "Life" is a much better read.
January 7, 2018
Wannabe takedown by a wannabe Albert Goldman. All the old rumors, all the old cheap shots, all the old lies. Mick's a phony. Mick's a narcissist. Mick hates women. Mick likes men. True. True. Maybe. So what?
Not one word about WHY this stuck up guy was able to conquer the rock world AND rule it without challenge for fifty years. That would have been nice!
Not one word about WHY this stuck up guy was able to conquer the rock world AND rule it without challenge for fifty years. That would have been nice!
July 5, 2012
A somewhat tabloid-esque bio of Mick Jagger. Written as if it were destined for the News of the World. At every turn, the bleakness of bad things is exaggerated, the number and variety of partners is emphasized, Jagger's reported sycophancy for the upper classes is dragged out . The continual translation of British terms to American is intrusive. The music is de-emphasized. Sex and drugs and rock and roll, without the latter. Definitely not in the same league as the Keith Richards autobiography of last year.
August 20, 2012
When I picked up this title, I knew it would be a gossip-y read that was light on the music and heavy on the scandal. However, I wasn't prepared for the tabloid-quality level of "facts" peppered throughout the text. Author Christopher Anderson may be the ONLY person left in the world who believes the infamous "Mars Bar" story regarding Marianne Faithfull when the Stones were busted in 1967, and this book is full of this type of speculation and quarter-truths.
November 17, 2019
Much grittier and superficial look at Mick than the other biography I read. But, still had stories that weren’t in the other book so well worth reading. I can’t get enough stories about The Rolling Stones. They were the original punks.
July 15, 2012
4.5 stars.
This resembles a tabloid story, which makes it an easy read and entertaining, if shocking. Anderson seems to have done his homework with much research and interviews.: Oh Mick, You have been a very naughty boy!
It chronicles a life of sex, drugs and (not so much) rock and roll.It spans from childhood to the formation of the Rolling Stones to the present 50th anniversary of the founding of the band.
We have heard of some of the 4000+ women and a few of the men Mick has been involved with over the years, and some of the names mentioned in the book are surprising. Also, surprising is the reason given why the Queen decided to have elective surgery on the day of Mick's knighthood ceremony.
We see Mick as a neglectful father transformed to a devoted father and grandfather. He also maintained close ties with his parents. He has the dilemma of persuading his daughters and grand daughters not to get involved with older men like himself while still leading a life of promiscuity. He seems to have given up drugs for healthy diet to maintain his energy on stage, but in early days drugs were varied and numerous .
Included is the rapid decline and death of Brian Jones, who actually founded the group. As in Keith's book, Bill Wyman is barely mentioned.The long love/hate friendship with Keith Richards is probably his most long lasting relationship.
If only a fraction of the book is true, it is amazing, almost magical that many of his contemporary rock stars have been dead for 40 years from excess in their lifestyle, whereas Mick continues to entertain and thrill with his energetic on stage performances with his band. Moves like Jagger, indeed!
This resembles a tabloid story, which makes it an easy read and entertaining, if shocking. Anderson seems to have done his homework with much research and interviews.: Oh Mick, You have been a very naughty boy!
It chronicles a life of sex, drugs and (not so much) rock and roll.It spans from childhood to the formation of the Rolling Stones to the present 50th anniversary of the founding of the band.
We have heard of some of the 4000+ women and a few of the men Mick has been involved with over the years, and some of the names mentioned in the book are surprising. Also, surprising is the reason given why the Queen decided to have elective surgery on the day of Mick's knighthood ceremony.
We see Mick as a neglectful father transformed to a devoted father and grandfather. He also maintained close ties with his parents. He has the dilemma of persuading his daughters and grand daughters not to get involved with older men like himself while still leading a life of promiscuity. He seems to have given up drugs for healthy diet to maintain his energy on stage, but in early days drugs were varied and numerous .
Included is the rapid decline and death of Brian Jones, who actually founded the group. As in Keith's book, Bill Wyman is barely mentioned.The long love/hate friendship with Keith Richards is probably his most long lasting relationship.
If only a fraction of the book is true, it is amazing, almost magical that many of his contemporary rock stars have been dead for 40 years from excess in their lifestyle, whereas Mick continues to entertain and thrill with his energetic on stage performances with his band. Moves like Jagger, indeed!
November 22, 2012
This is actually a followup to Andersen's 1993 biography of Mick Jagger called, JAGGER UNAUTHORIZED. After reading Keith Richard's delightful autobiography, LIFE, this new book about 'the other Glimmer Twin' is a real letdown. It is as if he cobbled together a bunch of tabloid articles about Mick Jagger, stitched them together, and failed to add any insight whatsoever. And, most of the 'facts' aren't really corroborated, so they are merely opinions of what other people (and many with numerous axes to grind) believe to be true.
However, because Mick's life is so interesting, regardless of the truth or untruth of the writing, it makes for a compelling read. But, it's high time that Sir Michael Philip Jagger finds the time to set the record straight in his own words. If anything is true of Jagger's business acumen, he is probably waiting until 'the price is right'. Although, he would probably agree that he doesn't need the money, but money is an effective way of calibrating 'value', and he would only engage in this activity if he would receive maximum 'value' for his efforts.
I would recommend that you wait until Jagger writes his autobiography (we all know that he will!), and meanwhile, you can keep up with his activities on Wikipedia or at his website. At least you won't be out any cash, and you won't get any less of an understanding of the man than you do in Andersen's new book.
However, because Mick's life is so interesting, regardless of the truth or untruth of the writing, it makes for a compelling read. But, it's high time that Sir Michael Philip Jagger finds the time to set the record straight in his own words. If anything is true of Jagger's business acumen, he is probably waiting until 'the price is right'. Although, he would probably agree that he doesn't need the money, but money is an effective way of calibrating 'value', and he would only engage in this activity if he would receive maximum 'value' for his efforts.
I would recommend that you wait until Jagger writes his autobiography (we all know that he will!), and meanwhile, you can keep up with his activities on Wikipedia or at his website. At least you won't be out any cash, and you won't get any less of an understanding of the man than you do in Andersen's new book.
December 2, 2014
This book promised to be "jam packed with juiciness" and it certainly was that. I know a lot more than the average person about the Stones and their early career so there was not much here that I didn't already know. However, there was one particularly vivid description of the violence at Altamont owing to the fact that the author was there covering the event for Time Magazine.
What I was less familiar with were the post 1982 years where Mick, trying to initiate a solo career, morphed into a habitué of the Glitterati circuit. So what did we learn here? A) Mick has probably slept with over 4,000 women and had children with at least three of them; B) He was nice to his mother; C) the affair with David Bowie was more than a one-off.
Mick may be a deeper person than he lets on to be, but you will only find scant evidence of that here (it seems he was truly shaken by the murder of John Lennon, 9-11 and the deaths of his parents). Still, he comes off as someone who would sell his friends down the river the minute something better comes along. On the plus side, he did manage to stay friends with Jerry Hall and the other women in his life who just couldn't stay mad at him no matter how much he humiliated them.
This is nowhere near in the league of Keith Richard's "Life," but is a page turner anyway.
What I was less familiar with were the post 1982 years where Mick, trying to initiate a solo career, morphed into a habitué of the Glitterati circuit. So what did we learn here? A) Mick has probably slept with over 4,000 women and had children with at least three of them; B) He was nice to his mother; C) the affair with David Bowie was more than a one-off.
Mick may be a deeper person than he lets on to be, but you will only find scant evidence of that here (it seems he was truly shaken by the murder of John Lennon, 9-11 and the deaths of his parents). Still, he comes off as someone who would sell his friends down the river the minute something better comes along. On the plus side, he did manage to stay friends with Jerry Hall and the other women in his life who just couldn't stay mad at him no matter how much he humiliated them.
This is nowhere near in the league of Keith Richard's "Life," but is a page turner anyway.
August 15, 2012
Here is how I would summarize this book:
Mick’s reported narcissism can be hard to take if you are around him much i.e., if you are one of his many intimate partners, family, friend, band member, or if you read a long book about him.
You won’t learn anything new about Mick in this book. Especially since all the juicy excerpts were published extensively in the media as teasers. It is a fun, inconsequential book, none the less.
It is very similar to all of Andersen’s books in terms of scope and depth of research.
Andersen's book details the breadth of Mick's reported sexual addictions and the extent of his homosexual relationships which are of course no new news. Andersen documents that like many people who struggle with sexual compulsion and addiction, Mick is a fundamentally intimacy avoidant person, who ironically cannot bear to be alone. The extent of his misogyny is of course no surprise either, but it is rather sad.
The only surprise in this book maybe, is this. Mick Jaguar, the world's most successful, wealthiest and most famous rocker of all time, is, in some important ways, just a sad and slightly pathetic senior citizen.
Mick’s reported narcissism can be hard to take if you are around him much i.e., if you are one of his many intimate partners, family, friend, band member, or if you read a long book about him.
You won’t learn anything new about Mick in this book. Especially since all the juicy excerpts were published extensively in the media as teasers. It is a fun, inconsequential book, none the less.
It is very similar to all of Andersen’s books in terms of scope and depth of research.
Andersen's book details the breadth of Mick's reported sexual addictions and the extent of his homosexual relationships which are of course no new news. Andersen documents that like many people who struggle with sexual compulsion and addiction, Mick is a fundamentally intimacy avoidant person, who ironically cannot bear to be alone. The extent of his misogyny is of course no surprise either, but it is rather sad.
The only surprise in this book maybe, is this. Mick Jaguar, the world's most successful, wealthiest and most famous rocker of all time, is, in some important ways, just a sad and slightly pathetic senior citizen.
August 27, 2012
When I picked up my copy of Mick: The Wild Life and Mad Genius of Mick Jagger, I hadn't realized that I had read a previous work by the author. Christopher Andersen appears to have made quite a living with biographies of political figures and select celebrities. This, in fact, is not his first book about Jagger, and since I have not read Jagger Unauthorized I cannot reveal whether or not Mick is a dressed-up revision of the former. I'm willing to bet not - though as I read the Goodreads summary of the previous book it pretty much details everything I have read in Mick. The only difference is that Mick continues Jagger's story through the new century.
It's amazing, too, that we're still talking about Mick and the Stones fifty years following their debut. Jagger remains relevant in song and pop culture - he recently hosted a season finale of Saturday Night Live, his name is practically synonymous with confident swagger, and the band plans to tour in 2013. I still have my stub from the Steel Wheels tour in 1989 - I'd thought that would be my last chance to see them live. Good thing I didn't bet money on that belief.
Back to the book. I finished this over a weekend. Where Mick is short on words (it's a good 200+ pages shorter than Keith Richards's Life, which I will read one day), it definitely makes up for the many instances of glossing over his young life by piling on the gossip. I would imagine, even if you don't follow the Stones religiously, you're aware of Jagger's reputation with the ladies. Here, you get names - lots of names. In fact, one could probably summarize this book as comprising:
The history of Mick Jagger's sex life.
The history of Mick Jagger's narcissism.
If you have followed Jagger's personal life and career, I doubt you'll find anything here to surprise you. As a moderate fan (one concert and ownership of a greatest hits compilation) nothing in this book shocked me. I'd heard the stories of bisexual romps and Jerry Hall's never-ending pursuit of a ring and a date, and while it appears Andersen attempted to arouse curiosity through a blind item about a tryst with two Shindig! regulars a trip to Wikipedia solved that mystery. This led me to question how well this book had been researched - among events presented as fact included the legendary Mars Bar incident of '67, which Snopes.com and others have refuted.
Readers are called upon here to merely accepted many things happened - Mick slept with this woman, punched that photographer, then slept with that woman. Andersen's simple style actually left me bored as I read, which baffled me. Jagger hardly seems the boring type. Of course, I did find it a challenge to sympathize with him through chapters detailing his lack of parenting skills, and loyalty toward friends who didn't want Jagger messing around with their women.
Philip Norman, whose bio of John Lennon I have read, publishes his Jagger bio in October. It will be interesting to read this take in comparison to Andersen's to see if there is more to this man.
It's amazing, too, that we're still talking about Mick and the Stones fifty years following their debut. Jagger remains relevant in song and pop culture - he recently hosted a season finale of Saturday Night Live, his name is practically synonymous with confident swagger, and the band plans to tour in 2013. I still have my stub from the Steel Wheels tour in 1989 - I'd thought that would be my last chance to see them live. Good thing I didn't bet money on that belief.
Back to the book. I finished this over a weekend. Where Mick is short on words (it's a good 200+ pages shorter than Keith Richards's Life, which I will read one day), it definitely makes up for the many instances of glossing over his young life by piling on the gossip. I would imagine, even if you don't follow the Stones religiously, you're aware of Jagger's reputation with the ladies. Here, you get names - lots of names. In fact, one could probably summarize this book as comprising:
The history of Mick Jagger's sex life.
The history of Mick Jagger's narcissism.
If you have followed Jagger's personal life and career, I doubt you'll find anything here to surprise you. As a moderate fan (one concert and ownership of a greatest hits compilation) nothing in this book shocked me. I'd heard the stories of bisexual romps and Jerry Hall's never-ending pursuit of a ring and a date, and while it appears Andersen attempted to arouse curiosity through a blind item about a tryst with two Shindig! regulars a trip to Wikipedia solved that mystery. This led me to question how well this book had been researched - among events presented as fact included the legendary Mars Bar incident of '67, which Snopes.com and others have refuted.
Readers are called upon here to merely accepted many things happened - Mick slept with this woman, punched that photographer, then slept with that woman. Andersen's simple style actually left me bored as I read, which baffled me. Jagger hardly seems the boring type. Of course, I did find it a challenge to sympathize with him through chapters detailing his lack of parenting skills, and loyalty toward friends who didn't want Jagger messing around with their women.
Philip Norman, whose bio of John Lennon I have read, publishes his Jagger bio in October. It will be interesting to read this take in comparison to Andersen's to see if there is more to this man.
February 7, 2014
As enjoyable as this book was to read, it really is more of a tell-all, gossipy expose than a serious music biography. Granted, many people are interested in such a book, especially after what Keith Richards wrote in his autobiography, but that doesn't mean it belongs on the same shelf as "Life". In many ways it parallels Arianna Huffington's biography of Pablo Picasso, only Mick's cast-off women don't seem to hate him as much. And only Keith gets to call Mick an a**hole.
September 13, 2012
Keith Richards and his authorized story, Life, are much more riveting. Don't be put off by the size of that book--it's WAY better. It has more detail, it has more voice, and it seems more real.
September 1, 2012
Mick Jagger is surely the King of Rock., There can be some debate about that, but he certainly is royalty. And apparently has always aspired to get up close and personal with royalty. I think we all know by now that Mick is quite a status snob.
I love the Stones as a band. Individually not so much. Perhaps Charlie Watts is a guy I would like to have a conversation with, but Mick or Keith, not really.
However, their music is so much a part of the musical theme of my life, it's danceable, memorable and constant. It is like the bedrock of modern music from the 60's on.
One thing I appreciate about Mick and the Stones is their love of blues, soul, and giving, in particular, black musicians and artists their respect and their due. The Stones were tremendously influential in bringing blues and early rock out of the racial divide.
Okay Mick Jagger...., well, he isn't suing the author so I guess the book is quite true. What a slutty slut he was and likely still is. The King of Sluts for sure. And I say slut, because if he was a woman, well, I can't imagine what would be written about him/her. Sleeping with over 4,000 women, going after the daughters of his friends, the granddaughters of old friends, disgusting. Even Keith pulled him aside in his 50's while he was still married to Jerry Hall and said, c'mon Brenda, see a sex counselor, you're just embarrasing yourself." Brenda is one of Keith's names for Mick, love it.
If Mick respected women, it would be different. Lots of women in the book are quoted as saying Mick doesn't like women that much, but he's a great lover. I would like to know their definition of great lover. Apparently he's very athletic in bed and while not small, not huge either.
Of course he's a tremendous talent, a true unique, influential, risk taking singer of the world's most famous and longest enduring band.
But as a person I find him difficult to like. It took him years to acknowledge his daughter Karis, by Marsha Hunt, even though he knew she was his. They were on welfare at one time.
And he is acknowledged by many in the book as being cheap. Cheap is a nasty and mean characteristic in my humble opinion. I can't stand cheap, especially in a man who is worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
I could go on, but read the book, it's full of interesting tidbits, famous people, famous events and probably addresses most everything you've wondered about Mick. Enjoy as a light refreshment.
I love the Stones as a band. Individually not so much. Perhaps Charlie Watts is a guy I would like to have a conversation with, but Mick or Keith, not really.
However, their music is so much a part of the musical theme of my life, it's danceable, memorable and constant. It is like the bedrock of modern music from the 60's on.
One thing I appreciate about Mick and the Stones is their love of blues, soul, and giving, in particular, black musicians and artists their respect and their due. The Stones were tremendously influential in bringing blues and early rock out of the racial divide.
Okay Mick Jagger...., well, he isn't suing the author so I guess the book is quite true. What a slutty slut he was and likely still is. The King of Sluts for sure. And I say slut, because if he was a woman, well, I can't imagine what would be written about him/her. Sleeping with over 4,000 women, going after the daughters of his friends, the granddaughters of old friends, disgusting. Even Keith pulled him aside in his 50's while he was still married to Jerry Hall and said, c'mon Brenda, see a sex counselor, you're just embarrasing yourself." Brenda is one of Keith's names for Mick, love it.
If Mick respected women, it would be different. Lots of women in the book are quoted as saying Mick doesn't like women that much, but he's a great lover. I would like to know their definition of great lover. Apparently he's very athletic in bed and while not small, not huge either.
Of course he's a tremendous talent, a true unique, influential, risk taking singer of the world's most famous and longest enduring band.
But as a person I find him difficult to like. It took him years to acknowledge his daughter Karis, by Marsha Hunt, even though he knew she was his. They were on welfare at one time.
And he is acknowledged by many in the book as being cheap. Cheap is a nasty and mean characteristic in my humble opinion. I can't stand cheap, especially in a man who is worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
I could go on, but read the book, it's full of interesting tidbits, famous people, famous events and probably addresses most everything you've wondered about Mick. Enjoy as a light refreshment.
September 26, 2012
Well, okay. I get the wild life part, but the mad genius?
Like a lot of rock bios, this is a little on the gooey side sometimes.
And Andersen makes some iffy statements, like "Goat's Head Soup" getting good reviews (it didn't), and Don McLean's "American Pie" being about Altamont (it's about the death of Buddy Holly and others in a plane crash).
The book is a quick read; I knocked it off in one sitting, albeit a three-hour sitting.
Some interesting background on Jagger, especially the influence of his father, a notable physical education teacher. This explains why the old bugger is still leaping around when by rights he should be performing from a stool, wearing shades and a pork pie hat.
Jagger sounds a rather unpleasant person, motivated by greed and the feverish desire to have sex with damn near anybody.
Since I don't think the Stones have made a decent record since "Some Girls" I don't really care how much money they grossed on the Steel Bridges to Babylon Licks tour or whatever it was called.
Worth a shot but prepare to be bored.
Like a lot of rock bios, this is a little on the gooey side sometimes.
And Andersen makes some iffy statements, like "Goat's Head Soup" getting good reviews (it didn't), and Don McLean's "American Pie" being about Altamont (it's about the death of Buddy Holly and others in a plane crash).
The book is a quick read; I knocked it off in one sitting, albeit a three-hour sitting.
Some interesting background on Jagger, especially the influence of his father, a notable physical education teacher. This explains why the old bugger is still leaping around when by rights he should be performing from a stool, wearing shades and a pork pie hat.
Jagger sounds a rather unpleasant person, motivated by greed and the feverish desire to have sex with damn near anybody.
Since I don't think the Stones have made a decent record since "Some Girls" I don't really care how much money they grossed on the Steel Bridges to Babylon Licks tour or whatever it was called.
Worth a shot but prepare to be bored.
January 2, 2013
So you can actually be more vainglorious. Interesting...
This is my second biography, first on a musician, and I now wonder what good a third read would be on someone not that famous. I admit, the large portion of excitement was caused by the back-cover annotation about his ca. 4k mistresses, but the story is actually very boring and more of a deterrent. To myself, I guess. Not that I was a star or anything..
Not recommending this one. It feels that if you are a Rolling Stones fan, you may lose the spirit. Worse still, you may already know this. Mick is a legend to some. I admire his musical success, and finished the book, because first, I paid for it, and second, I wanted to discover, how he's remained on top of his affairs and, if he's found reason finally..
Listen to Zeds Dead's remix of Gimme Shelter.
This is my second biography, first on a musician, and I now wonder what good a third read would be on someone not that famous. I admit, the large portion of excitement was caused by the back-cover annotation about his ca. 4k mistresses, but the story is actually very boring and more of a deterrent. To myself, I guess. Not that I was a star or anything..
Not recommending this one. It feels that if you are a Rolling Stones fan, you may lose the spirit. Worse still, you may already know this. Mick is a legend to some. I admire his musical success, and finished the book, because first, I paid for it, and second, I wanted to discover, how he's remained on top of his affairs and, if he's found reason finally..
Listen to Zeds Dead's remix of Gimme Shelter.
January 3, 2017
If you go into this book expecting it to focus on the music or creative process of the Rolling Stones, you'll be disappointed. While those elements are part of the narrative, the focus is much more Mick Jagger's life, especially his love life and sexual escapades with over 4000 women and men over the years (no, that number isn't a typo). This book is sex, drugs, and rock and roll at its best--in that order. Rumors of the Stones' debauchery weren't exaggerations! The pacing drags in places in the first half of the book and speeds up too much toward the end, but all in all it was a fun, trashy read.
October 11, 2012
As my DH likes to say, "oof". This is a fair-to-midling trash read. The author specializes in quick biographies. Nothing is substantianted by Mick Jagger. There is the random quote but nothing directly by the author from Jagger. The title suggests that you're going to find out about the mad genius of Jagger but there is precious little about what makes him great. I'm a big Mick fan and I'm willing to give him a fair amount of latitude on some of his strange behavior, but this guy really wants to make him a villain.
I took it out of the library. Don't buy it, whatever you do!
I took it out of the library. Don't buy it, whatever you do!
July 22, 2012
Another collection of stories cobbled together from various sources and timed for the 50th anniversary. There is nothing much new for a Rolling Stones fan in this book. It all seems a bit exaggerated and speculative, with the negatives to the forefront and the music basically forgotten about.
There are better books on the subject out there, written by people who actually have a personal connection to the Rolling Stones.
There are better books on the subject out there, written by people who actually have a personal connection to the Rolling Stones.
August 26, 2012
Knew next to nothing about this "icon". The fact that he went to the London School of Economics I thought might bring up SOMETHING interesting about him. Alas, no. He doesn't seem to even have funnelled a bit of his billions into charitable projects. Ugh - what a superjerk! Detailed account of Altamonte - Wow!
I do realize that this was simply a cut & paste from tabloids so-called "book" - but nevertheless.
This summer's heat is obviously baking my brain to spend time finishing this book.
I do realize that this was simply a cut & paste from tabloids so-called "book" - but nevertheless.
This summer's heat is obviously baking my brain to spend time finishing this book.
August 28, 2012
Not much -- an interesting, superficial overview, well researched apparently, of Mick's philandering, and breeding practices -- but having read Keith Richard's A Life, I found this one to be very superficial as far as ANY references to the creative process goes. One major eye-opener: the total sluttiness of Carla Bruni! No wonder Sarkozy was so jealous!
August 7, 2013
Seemed way more interested in his sexual escapades--or "sexcapades" as I call them--than anything to do with the actual music he created. For instance, the book devotes maybe half a page to the recording of EXILE ON MAIN STREET but goes into great detail about various celebrities he partied with and/or screwed and the soap opera-esque spouse-swapping.
September 10, 2014
Readable and entertaining, although I'm not a Stones fan. Mick Jagger does not come out of this version of his life very well - vain, mean, ruthless, money hungry, bisexual, a voracious user of drugs and relentlessly promiscuous. But he is evidently a fascinating character and a charismatic performer.
September 10, 2012
Warmed over trash. You'd do as well to read a collection of People magazine articles over the years as spend your money on this book. Yet, it is true, I read the entire book, because depravity, character defects and raw genius are a heady mix.
March 2, 2013
Just another account of the misbehaving,arrogant ,famous control freak.
He has slept with over 4000 women - I can understand a fling with Bowie l . . But Eric Clapton??? C'mon give me a break . . . Always wondered how he earned the nickname "slow hand" . . . Now I think I know
He has slept with over 4000 women - I can understand a fling with Bowie l . . But Eric Clapton??? C'mon give me a break . . . Always wondered how he earned the nickname "slow hand" . . . Now I think I know
November 14, 2022
A biography, unlike Keith's autobiography "Life" (my favorite book), so can't be compared apples to apples, but a great book by Andersen, and the most complete portrayal of Mick's life I've ever come across.
August 8, 2012
what a busy guy he is. The tales are redundant. Interesting take on Altamont, but other than that nothing new.
June 17, 2021
If you're looking for a book with salacious details about the sex life of one Mick Jagger, this is it. The 'body count' is pretty high in this one.
Despite (or including) all of the lurid details with Mick's many, many, (and many and many) women, "Mick" actually does a good job filling readers in on Jagger's other biographical highlights. Starting with his formative years in England, we see a portrait of a very complex and talented individual...who happens to have a sex addiction and out of control desire to be completely in control and in the spotlight. Understanding Jagger's childhood is important, although there seems to be little connection between that and the man he would become. Virtually nothing about his early adolescence serves as an early indicator of things to come. But once Mick and the Stones become worldwide rock legends, the book moves at a dizzying pace, from one woman and album and tour to another set of the same.
I would have liked for the book to go into more detail about Jagger's songwriting insights, but I suppose there are other books for that. Either way, this is a highly entertaining book for Rolling Stones fans.
Despite (or including) all of the lurid details with Mick's many, many, (and many and many) women, "Mick" actually does a good job filling readers in on Jagger's other biographical highlights. Starting with his formative years in England, we see a portrait of a very complex and talented individual...who happens to have a sex addiction and out of control desire to be completely in control and in the spotlight. Understanding Jagger's childhood is important, although there seems to be little connection between that and the man he would become. Virtually nothing about his early adolescence serves as an early indicator of things to come. But once Mick and the Stones become worldwide rock legends, the book moves at a dizzying pace, from one woman and album and tour to another set of the same.
I would have liked for the book to go into more detail about Jagger's songwriting insights, but I suppose there are other books for that. Either way, this is a highly entertaining book for Rolling Stones fans.
July 19, 2020
Мик Джагър е една от доминиращите фигури на нашето време. През последния половин век - от бурните, непокорни шейсет години на миналото столетие, през хедонистичните седемдесет, до процъфтяващите осемдесет и лишени те от всякакви табута деветдесет - Джагър се просмуква в порите на културата по начин, по който малцина други могат. След като веднъж "Бийтълс" са трасирали пътя със своя скриптящ от чистота бранд на юношеския си бунт, "Стоунс" се печат с това, че са мръсни, развллечени, нецензурни и груби. Никоя група не въплъщава секса, наркотиците и нравите във времето на рокендрола в по-голяма степен от" Рлинг Стоунс".
До 2010 г. от десет най-касови концертни турнета на всички времена" Ролинг Стоунс" заемат първо, трето, четвърто, пето и девето място.
Но разбира се съществуват и записите - удивителни те 250 милиона продадени албума. Годишните класации никога не пропускат да обявят "Стоунс" за най-великата рок банда на всички времена, а това логично прави Мик рок воклист номер 1 на всички времена. Извън сцената той отговаря на очакванията, като живее разпуснато, потънал в разкош живот на арогантна, самообсебена, привидно извън контрол рок звезда. Той успява да изгради онова, което е присъщо за всички истински икони: могъща мистика.
До 2010 г. от десет най-касови концертни турнета на всички времена" Ролинг Стоунс" заемат първо, трето, четвърто, пето и девето място.
Но разбира се съществуват и записите - удивителни те 250 милиона продадени албума. Годишните класации никога не пропускат да обявят "Стоунс" за най-великата рок банда на всички времена, а това логично прави Мик рок воклист номер 1 на всички времена. Извън сцената той отговаря на очакванията, като живее разпуснато, потънал в разкош живот на арогантна, самообсебена, привидно извън контрол рок звезда. Той успява да изгради онова, което е присъщо за всички истински икони: могъща мистика.
October 19, 2023
My rating: 3.5 stars
It was fun to read about Mick Jagger, but this was written like an article.
It was ridiculous when he was described as being theatrical and constantly calling women because he couldn't stand being dumped by them, or seducing them away from their boyfriends just cause.
Or him getting with younger and younger women until he tried putting the moves on Britney Spears. Really, Mick? -_-
So many wives, girlfriends and women and then Keith Richards is called his best and longest-lasting relationship. XD
Also the reason him and Keith had their biggest fight is just... ridiculous, and then his former lovers and Pete Townshend, for some reason, had to jump to his defense.
His worst qualities exasperated me, but I'm glad that his relationship with David Bowie was included. The sixties were a wild time, it seems, and his bandmates had to put up with a lot, but it was entertaining to read about.
It was fun to read about Mick Jagger, but this was written like an article.
It was ridiculous when he was described as being theatrical and constantly calling women because he couldn't stand being dumped by them, or seducing them away from their boyfriends just cause.
Or him getting with younger and younger women until he tried putting the moves on Britney Spears. Really, Mick? -_-
So many wives, girlfriends and women and then Keith Richards is called his best and longest-lasting relationship. XD
Also the reason him and Keith had their biggest fight is just... ridiculous, and then his former lovers and Pete Townshend, for some reason, had to jump to his defense.
His worst qualities exasperated me, but I'm glad that his relationship with David Bowie was included. The sixties were a wild time, it seems, and his bandmates had to put up with a lot, but it was entertaining to read about.
October 12, 2017
This book should have been called "Mick's Sex Life". It goes from one liaison to another, to another; women to men and back again. Those of us who are true Stones fans know all about it. Most of what is in the book has been reported time and again. The book does not explore o his creative genius, nor his supreme contribution to music. Nothing is told of positive relationships in this life. His concerts are magnificent. The book does not mention that. I wish I could return this Kindle book as a protest to its negative tone. Also, most of the content has been reported in the news, in gossip segments, and in the "rag" sheets. The National Enquirer was not mentioned as an inspiration It should have been.
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