Michael Philip Jagger turns 68 today.He is in arguably a survivor and has produced a mind-boggling body of work, some of it brilliant, in his 50-year career. He's produced lots of things, now that we think of it, including seven children by four women - to two of whom, Bianca De Macias and model Jerry Hall, he was actually married. He also has four grandchildren, God bless him.Controversy has swirled around Mick Jagger for as long as he's been in the public limelight, which is to say virtually continuously since the early 1960s, when The Rolling Stones was formed as a rhythm-and-blues cover band. From the beginning the band appeared to consciously develop and nurture an anti-establishment image, and Jagger embodied and personified that image.
To say he has occasionally behaved badly is an understatement. Over the course of a half-century, he has been nearly as well known for his various drug-related arrests, onstage sexual antics and provocative song lyrics as for his brilliant songwriting. OK, so Jagger is not the role model you want your children to adopt. Not to worry; to them he's an old geezer. Besides, your parents had the same worry. And look how you turned out.
On the other hand, he is titled, having been knighted in 2003 as Sir Michael Jagger by the Prince of Wales for "Services to Music." The knighthood thing, like most everything else in Jagger's life, was rife with controversy. Critics said he didn't deserve the honor because he had done nothing in the way of charitable work or public service. Rolling Stones bandmates Keith Richards and Charlie Watts said he was selling out to the establishment in betrayal of the band's image.
Then there's his work ethic. In between making babies, movies and tabloid headlines, Jagger found time to create 92 singles, 29 studio albums and 10 live albums with the Stones. And, he shows no signs of slowing down. At an age when the only rocking most people want to do is in a chair, Jagger's still doing it his way. In May he announced the formation of a new supergroup, Super Heavy, including himself, Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Joss Stone and Damian Marley (youngest son of the late Bob).
Super Heavy is working super fast: An album is scheduled for September release, and the first single, "Miracle Worker," is already getting play on alternative radio. Maybe Jagger figures he's working on borrowed time.
Happy birthday, Mick.