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Rolling Stones Quotes: Mick Jagger about punk (1978)

“Punk, punk, punk… We’re a punk band, one of the few.”
Journalist: You’re punks and you’re staying at the Fairmont with police escorts for your limo? C’mon Mick.
“Shut up, shut up. It’s the attitude that counts!”

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The Rolling Stones and punk rock—now there’s a love story for the ages. Or maybe more of a “we don’t really get you, but we respect your chaos” kind of deal. Let’s face it, the Stones were never exactly known for their subtlety- Punk took it to a whole new level. Still, there’s a certain kind of rock ‘n’ roll kinship between the two, even if it’s more like a family reunion where no one knows who invited the weird cousin with the Mohawk.

In the late ‘70s, as it was tearing up the scene, the Stones were already seasoned rock gods, but they couldn’t help but notice the movement. After all, it was loud, rebellious, and all about anarchy—basically, everything the Stones had perfected. Sure, the Stones were a bit too polished for punk’s raw, DIY ethos, but they still appreciated the energy. I mean, it was still rock ‘n’ roll, just a little grittier and more in-your-face.

Mick Jagger himself has admitted that he wasn’t totally sold on punk at first, but he couldn’t deny the attitude and aggression that came with it. On the other hand, Keith Richards was a bit more laid back, probably because he was too busy looking cool to care about anything else. Yet, both the Stones and punk bands like The Sex Pistols and The Clash were breaking the rules—just in different ways. The Stones didn’t exactly jump on its bandwagon, but they certainly recognized the influence and the spirit, even if they kept their distance and did it their own way.

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