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Rolling Stones Quotes: Mick Jagger about touring without Keith Richards (1977)
“Would we tour without Keith if he was in jail for a long time? Yeah, I should say so… Obviously we wouldn’t if Keith was only in jail for a month or two months, but if he was in jail for a long period of time, I suppose we’d have to… We can’t wait 5 years. In 5 years, we won’t be touring at all. Not much anyway, just a few lounges.”
In 1977, faced with the very real possibility of Keith Richards facing serious jail time, Mick Jagger gave a frank answer when asked if the Rolling Stones would consider touring without him. His response cut through any sentimentality: they couldn’t afford to put everything on hold. “We can’t wait 5 years,” Jagger said, acknowledging the ticking clock of a band already well into its second decade.
The Rolling Stones Touring Without Keith? Mick Didn’t Rule It Out
Mick drew a clear line between short-term absence and a long-term sentence. A couple of months in jail? No problem—they’d wait it out. But if it came to years behind bars, Jagger wasn’t shy about the harsh reality: the show would go on. “In 5 years, we won’t be touring at all. Not much anyway, just a few lounges,” he added dryly, showing both pragmatism and a bit of cheek. It wasn’t just about loyalty—it was about momentum, legacy, and survival. This moment highlighted the tension between the band’s deep internal bonds and the unstoppable demands of fame and business. Even with one of its core members possibly out of commission, the Stones machine had to roll forward—or risk grinding to a halt.
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