Sir Mick Jagger has discussed the possibility of The Rolling Stones outlasting his lifetime with the rise of AI technology in the music industry.
Abba have seen huge success with their Abba Voyage virtual concert residency, which sees ‘Abba-tars’ depict the singers as they appeared in their 70s heyday.
Now, The Rolling Stones frontman Mick, 80, has discussed the possibility of a ‘post-humous tour’ with AI avatars depicting himself and his fellow bandmates on stage.
Referencing Abba’s success, he told WSJ. Magazine: ‘You can have a posthumous business now, can’t you? You can have a posthumous tour.
‘The technology has really moved on since the ABBA thing, which I was supposed to go to, but I missed it.’
Immortalised: Sir Mick Jagger (pictured in June 2022) has discussed the possibility of The Rolling Stones outlasting his lifetime with the rise of AI technology in the music industry
The Rolling Stones – made up of Mick, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood – are releasing their first album of new material in 18 years, and their first since Charlie Watts’ death.
Drummer Charlie sadly passed away in August 2021 aged 80, following complications from emergency heart surgery.
There are two tracks on the new album which were recorded in 2019, meaning the late drummer will still feature on the project in a sweet tribute to the music icon.
Elsewhere in his WSJ interview, Mick also told how he has no plans to sell the rights to the band’s back catalogue, insisting his children don’t need ‘$500million to live well’.
Mick has eight children with five different women, including his eldest daughter Karis, 52, who was a result of a fling with actress and singer Marsha Hunt.
He went on to have daughter Jade, 51, with his then-wife Bianca, and also has four children with Jerry Hall – daughters Elizabeth, 38, and Georgia, 30, and sons James, 36, and Gabriel, 24.
Mick also has a son Lucas, 24, with Luciana Gimenez, while he shares his youngest son Deveraux, six, with his partner Melanie Hamrick.
The rocker also recently revealed that he went public with ballerina Melanie on social media to stop speculation over his love life.
Technology: Mick, 80, has discussed the possibility of a ‘post-humous tour’ with AI avatars depicting himself and his bandmates on stage (The Rolling Stones are pictured in 1973)
AI: Abba have seen huge success with their Abba Voyage virtual concert residency, which sees ‘Abba-tars’ depict the singers as they appeared in their 70s heyday
He still likes to keep some matters to himself but has embraced his online presence and is pleased he can use it to control the narrative.
He explained how it helped him with his ballet star girlfriend, 36, who he has been dating since 2014 and shares son Deveraux, six, with.
He told WSJ. Magazine: ‘It’s just a fact of life. But there are boundaries I like to have.
‘People used to post stuff and everyone would think, whatever girl you’re standing next to… “Is that your new girlfriend?” You know. But everyone knows now.’
Mick also gushed over his ‘supportive’ family as the Rolling Stones prepare to put out their first all-original album in 18 years.
The band sent fans wild when they confirmed they will be returning to the music scene with a brand new album.
Mick, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood reunited at a special live event for their new album Hackney Diamonds, their first since drummer Charlie’s death.
The rock band confirmed that a string of huge stars have collaborated on their album, including the likes of Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder.
Rockers: The Rolling Stones – made up of Mick, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood – are releasing their first album of new material in 18 years , and their first since Charlie Watts’ death
Loss: Drummer Charlie (pictured in 2016) sadly passed away in August 2021 aged 80, f ollowing complications from emergency heart surgery
And Sir Mick also revealed exactly how their decision to work with Lady Gaga, 37, came about, sharing that it was a rather spontaneous collaboration.
He told how Lady Gaga was recording her own music in a studio next-door to them while they were in Los Angeles and had simply popped in to say hello.
But the singer then ended up featuring on their new track Sweet Sound of Heaven when she spontaneously started singing with Sir Mick.
‘She walked in next to me and we started singing together,’ Jagger told AP backstage. ‘She sang it live and then we went in and tidied it up a bit.’
Recorded in December and January at studios around the world, the new album sees the Stones team up with Grammy-winning producer Andrew Watt, who helped assemble the starry guest list, which also includes former Stone Bill Wyman.
Bill was part of the band’s first stable line-up and performed on their first 19 albums, and is now returning for Hackney Diamonds.
Sir Mick said of Bill’s involvement: ‘We asked Bill to come in and do one track so we have the original line-up on one track.’
Private: Mick also revealed that he went public with ballerina Melanie on social media to stop speculation over his love life
Among the star-studded guest list, The Rolling Stones also enlisted actress Sydney Sweeney to star in the music video for the album’s lead single Angry.
In the video, the Euphoria star, 25, put on a sizzling display as she slipped into a leather crop top and matching skimpy shorts.
The video, directed by Francois Rousselet, sees Sydney miming the lyrics to the single as she strikes a series of dance moves in the back of a car driving through Los Angeles.
This article is featured in WSJ Magazine’s October 2023 Issue, which is available from Saturday October 7.
