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Early Mick Jagger footage climbing rocks with his father
In the 1950s, Mick Jagger (at the time called “Mike Jagger”) was only a middle class kid growing up in Dartford, Kent, England. Eva, his mother, was a hairdresser, while his father Joe, a Physical Education teacher. The Jagger family lived in a nice orderly home, with more than enough money to pay the bills (unlike his neighbor, Keith Richards) In 1957, the elder Jagger began consulting on a weekly TV show called Seeing Sport, which promoted the virtues of sports to British children.
Before the Fame: Mick Jagger in Gym Shoes and a Rope
In the coming years, Mick and his brother Chris made regular appearances on Seeing Sport, showing viewers how to build a tent, or master various canoeing skills. In the 1959 clip below (from an episode that was shot in a spot called High Rocks near Tunbridge Wells), Mick shows off the footwear needed for rock climbing. Nothing too fancy. Just a pair of “ordinary gym shoes … like the kind Mike is wearing” There, a fresh-faced, 15-year-old Jagger models his low-tech gym shoes and demonstrates a climb at High Rocks as his father narrates the activity. “I’m coming up!” Jagger shouts as he follows the leader up the route, rope around his waist.
Jagger’s Early Steps into Showbiz: A Teenage Star in the Making
While most teenagers were busy with school and hanging out with friends, fourteen-year-old Mike found himself in an entirely different world—television. In 1957, he began appearing alongside his father in the ATV series Seeing Sport, a show that showcased various adventurous activities like rock climbing.
This early exposure to the entertainment industry marked the first step in Mike’s journey into showbiz. Unlike his peers, who were puzzled by his sudden departures to the studio, Mike was already carving out a unique path for himself. His time on television not only set him apart but also laid the foundation for a career that would take him far beyond the ordinary teenage experience.
Mick Jagger: From Sports and Academia to Rock ‘n’ Roll Rebel
Long before Mick Jagger became the legendary frontman of The Rolling Stones, his life was shaped by two strong influences—academia and sport. Now 78, Jagger reflects on how his father’s career as a teacher instilled in him both a love for athletics and a strong academic focus. His parents encouraged discipline and education, envisioning a conventional path for their son.
“In those Slightly post-Edwardian days,” Mick told an interviewer, “everybody had to do a turn at family gatherings. You might recite poetry, and Uncle Whatever would play the piano and sing, and you all had something to do. And I was just one of those kids. You have to want some sort of approval, but it’s also just the love of doing it.”
However, what they didn’t fully anticipate was that their energetic and extroverted child—who juggled music, football, and other extracurricular passions—had his sights set on something far beyond textbooks and sports fields. While Jagger initially pursued studies at the London School of Economics, his heart belonged elsewhere. By 1962, he made the bold decision to leave university and dive headfirst into music, co-founding The Rolling Stones.
The choice wasn’t easy, especially for his father, who struggled to accept Mick’s departure from a secure academic future. “I think he was depressed for a year”, Jagger admitted, acknowledging the disappointment his decision caused. But as The Rolling Stones gained momentum and success, his father eventually recognized the significance of his son’s path. “In the end, he loved it”, Mick reflected, proving that sometimes, the most unconventional choices lead to extraordinary destinies.
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