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Rolling Stones Quotes: Charlie Watts on Otis Redding (2013)
“When you’d see Otis Redding, that band live, those tempos.… He was entertaining, doing it all, but he could stop during a sax solo or something. That drummer, though, was going the whole bloody time. It’s what you do. The drummer is the engine. It’s worse when you get tired and have a lot of the show still to do.”
The relationship between Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and legendary soul singer Otis Redding was one of mutual admiration and respect, marked by a deep appreciation for each other’s musical talents. Redding, known for his powerful voice and emotive performances, had a significant influence on the music scene in the 1960s, particularly within the realms of soul, rhythm, and blues. Jagger, on the other hand, was rising to fame with the Rolling Stones, a band that had already started to incorporate elements of American blues and soul into their rock music.
When Rock Met Soul: The Rolling Stones & Otis Redding
The two first crossed paths in the mid-1960s when Otis Redding was making waves in the U.S. with hits like Respect and I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (which the Stones covered) Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones were huge fans of Redding’s music, and Jagger was notably influenced by Redding’s vocal delivery and stage presence. Redding’s raw, emotional style became a reference point for Jagger’s own performance techniques, particularly his ability to command a stage and connect with an audience.
In 1966, the Rolling Stones and Redding performed at the same venue during a tour, and it’s believed that the two exchanged words backstage. Jagger was said to have been in awe of Redding’s talent, and the mutual respect was evident. While they didn’t form a deep personal friendship, their interactions were emblematic of the camaraderie that existed between rock and soul musicians of the time.
Soulful Echoes: Otis Redding’s Lasting Mark on Jagger
Redding’s influence on Jagger is clear in the Stones’ work. Jagger, in turn, paid tribute to Redding’s legacy in interviews, acknowledging the profound impact Redding had on him as a performer. Their relationship was built on shared musical respect, with Redding’s soulful energy shaping Jagger’s stage persona.
Otis Redding recorded his own version of Satisfaction for his 1965 album Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul. Redding admitted that he didn’t know the original lyrics, saying, “I use a lot of words different than the Stones’ version. That’s because I made them up.”
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