Bill Wyman about Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (1981)

By Marcelo Sonaglioni on March 28, 2025 • ( 1 Comment )

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Rolling Stones Quotes: Bill Wyman about Mick and Keith (1981)

“The story is that Mick and Keith are the producers. They work together on the basic tracks, but from then on they work separately and form their own opinions. So you end up with various mixes that Keith’s done, as well as alternate mixes that Mick has done of the same material. At that point they haggle out which versions of each tune are best. I’ve never heard of them erasing each other’s tapes (laughs). It’s more a question of fighting it out over which version of any given song will appear on the album.”

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rolling stones mick and keith wyman quote 1981

The Jagger/Richards Songwriting Formula: Chaos, Riffs, and Magic

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have been cranking out legendary songs for over six decades, but don’t expect them to sit down with a notebook and politely map things out. Their songwriting process is more of a beautifully chaotic dance—part instinct, part alchemy, and a whole lot of Keith coming up with a killer riff while Mick figures out how to turn it into a hit.

Keith is the riff master, the guy who picks up a guitar and stumbles onto magic. Think Satisfaction, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, or Start Me Up—all built around those instantly recognizable Richards riffs. Once Keith has the skeleton of a song, Mick steps in to shape it, adding lyrics, melody, and his signature sense of attitude. And if the song needs a little extra push? Jagger’s a lot more musically savvy than people give him credit for—he knows when to tweak a chord or rework a melody to make it shine.

But the real secret? Their chemistry. Sure, they fight like brothers, but that creative tension is exactly what’s kept their songwriting sharp. Keith brings the raw, bluesy foundation, Mick adds the showmanship and polish, and somewhere in the middle, they create rock ‘n’ roll gold. Whether it’s a swaggering anthem or a soulful ballad, the Jagger/Richards formula has never really changed—it’s just gotten better with time.

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