Who’s the Future of Rock and Roll? Just ask Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger is a veteran and icon of the classic rock world. At age 79, he's still kickin' it and touring around the world with the Rolling Stones, recently having finished a European tour for the band's 60th anniversary. Jagger has long been recognized for his distinct voice, androgynous glam style, and wild reputation. But who does he look towards one day taking his place as a leading face in the rock industry?
Well, the answer might be a surprise, as it certainly was to me. Take a guess… Italian glam rock band and winners of Eurovision 2021 Måneskin? No. '70s wannabe rock star Josh Kiszka of Greta Van Fleet? Not the one. His superfan and look-alike Harry Styles? Absolutely not. Instead, Jagger commends Yungblud and Machine Gun Kelly. According to an interview with Swedish radio station P4, he claimed their "...post-punk vibe makes me think there is still a bit of life in rock 'n' roll."
Giving a listen to both Yungblud and MGK's music, as someone who has been a fan of the Rolling Stones since I was about 13, I wasn’t sure what to make of this. For one, Yungblud is a pop-punk musician whose songs sound more like what I'd listen to in middle school during my emo phase than riff-centered, electric rock like the Stones' music. Don't even get me started on MGK. Sure, his songs have drums, angst, and Sunset Strip references. But that doesn't constitute his industry-punk, 2000s alternative sound as the future of rock and roll. MGK loves to adopt the aesthetic of sex god, weed lover, and fiancé of a hot celeb, but in practice doesn't hold anything to the OG rock star with his cringy one-liners and dangerous interactions on Twitter with minors and people of color.
Does Mick Jagger's opinion hold any credibility in the modern rock world? Some say rock and roll is dead, and it is to some extent. Surely rock singles don't dominate the charts as they once did about 50 years ago. People don't hold rock stars to God-like status as superfans of the past have with the likes of The Beatles, David Bowie, and The Stones. But the genre certainly persists. Many artists have gained well-deserved attention in the modern day. Did Jagger simply forget about them?
Meanwhile, Jagger has been looking down upon Harry Styles, undoubtedly one of the biggest names in music today. You may remember—if you were on Harry-Tok or Classic Rock-Tok about two years ago—the overwhelming comparisons between Harry and young Mick. People took as far as to call Styles the Mick Jagger of our generation. Harry is known to be a child of rock & roll, in the past posting photos of his favorite musicians on Instagram and taking musical and fashion inspiration from legends like David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Prince, and of course, Jagger himself. Word reached Mick, and he didn't like it. Though the two are acquaintances, Rolling Stone quoted Jagger harshly calling Harry a "superficial resemblance to [his] younger self." This surprises me, as Harry's music shows pull much more inspiration from rock and roll than either Yungblud or MGK's. Just have a listen to "Kiwi" and "Woman," two hard-rock-powered songs on Harry's self-titled album. At least Harry has rock songs. Indeed, one of his largest inspirations is Mick Jagger, who he named "the coolest man on the planet" and who he's emulated on TV (he played Jagger on SNL), on stage, and in his most recent music video for "As It Was." He reportedly "spent hours with fashion designer Arturo Obegero…[looking] over rocker Sir Mick's past outfits" to create the perfect ensemble, according to The Daily Mail. Harry is the ultimate fanboy, boosting Jagger's ego by multitudes, but still, Jagger didn't think to mention him as one rejuvenating rock and roll, at least stylistically and much more musically than Yungblud or MGK ever have.
But Jagger's conceit shines through even without the acknowledgment of Styles' obsession with him, saying Harry "doesn't have a voice like mine or move on stage like me" and that he was "much more androgynous" with his iconic glittery make-up looks than Harry has ever been. While he may not be wrong about this, I have to ask, do either Yungblud or MGK have any of those qualities, any qualities at all, that make a pure rock star? Charisma, sex appeal, diversity. Ostentatious modesty, sincere obscenity, a stage presence. Will they be an icon in the industry for decades to come, a source of reference for an entire genre, a household name?
Strike Out,
Parmis Etezady
Boca Raton
Parmis Etezady is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine Boca. In her free time, she likes to collect records, go to rock concerts (or blast music in her bedroom), and obsess over vintage fashion. You can reach her at petezady@gmail.com.
