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Bill Wyman about ‘Brown Sugar’

“Mick came up with the song while filming in Australia. It was Mick’s riff rather than, as you might well assume, something by Keith. Inspired by the music of Freddy Cannon, Mick originally called his track ‘Black Pussy’ before deciding to give it a more sensible title. The lyrics were partially inspired by a black backing singer we knew in L.A. called Claudia Lennear.”

*Read more about Mick Jagger’s inspiration for Brown Sugar (from Spin magazine)

*Click for MORE ROLLING STONES QUOTES THROUGH THE YEARS

A Brown Sugar quote by Bill Wyman… Mick Jagger’s song has always sparked its fair share of conversations—some uncomfortable, some perplexing. If we’re being honest, the song is a mix of historical references, provocative lyrics, and a healthy dose of sarcasm, and its inspiration from Claudia Lennear is no exception. Claudia, a backup singer and one of Jagger’s romantic interests, definitely left an impression on him, but let’s not sugarcoat it (pun intended). The song is far from a sweet tribute to her.

Jagger, being the cheeky rock star he was, took bits of his personal life and sprinkled them into the song with a healthy dose of irony. He didn’t exactly paint Lennear as the innocent muse but instead created this larger-than-life character—a symbol of exotic allure with a touch of controversy. The “Brown Sugar” in the song isn’t just about Claudia; it’s a mash-up of ideas, from history to race to sexuality, all wrapped in that signature Rolling Stones swagger.

There’s no denying that Lennear, a beautiful, strong woman with her own identity, became the muse for Jagger’s unpredictable creative mind, but he wasn’t about to write a sappy love song. Oh no, Jagger’s not that easy. He takes the inspiration, flips it on its head, and uses it to explore themes of power, exploitation, and rebellion—all while keeping that infectious groove.

The end result? A track that’s provocative, sarcastic, and unapologetically Jagger. He took his personal life, threw in a bit of history, and made Brown Sugar a bold statement of rock ‘n’ roll that still gets people talking today. Lennear might have been the spark, but Mick made sure to take it in a direction that only the Stones could. Classic Mick, right? (Ref. brown sugar quote)

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