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Rolling Stones Quotes: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on Buddy Holly
Mick: “To English people he was an enormous inspiration. Therein lies the difference because he was a songwriter, which Elvis wasn’t. And he wrote very simple songs, sort of lesson one in songwriting. Great songs, which had simple changes and nice melodies and changes of tempo and all that. You could learn from Buddy Holly how to write songs, the way he put them together. He was a beautiful writer.”
Keith: “Mick had been singing with some rock and roll bands, doing Buddy Holly… He was in England as solid as Elvis. Everything that came out was a record smash No. 1. By about ’58, it was either Elvis or him. It was split into two camps. The Elvis fans were the heavy leather boys and the Holly ones all somehow looked like Buddy Holly.”
Before they were the Rolling Stones—the icons of rock defiance—Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were just young musicians absorbing the magic of their musical heroes. Among those early influences, Buddy Holly stood tall. His clean, melodic songwriting and fearless approach to rock and roll resonated deeply with the duo. Holly’s spirit of innovation wasn’t just admired—it became a silent mentor, weaving its way into the raw energy and attitude that would later define the Stones’ unmistakable sound.
Buddy Holly: The Quiet Architect of Rebellion
While the Rolling Stones blazed their own rebellious trail, they never shied away from acknowledging the giants whose shoulders they stood on. Holly’s influence, though subtle, was immense. Jagger and Richards have spoken about how his music cracked open a new world of possibilities—proving that rock could be both powerful and poetic. His timeless melodies, simplicity with depth, and bold spirit helped lay the foundation for their own success.
More than just inspiration, Holly became a symbol of musical freedom. His work encouraged artists like the Stones to experiment fearlessly and express themselves unapologetically. Through their admiration and countless interviews, Jagger and Richards continue to highlight his role in shaping modern rock and roll.
Even today, Buddy Holly’s legacy hums beneath the surface of many great acts. The Stones, with all their global fame and impact, still carry the echoes of his genius in their riffs and rhythms. His contribution to the music world is not just remembered—it’s relived, every time someone picks up a guitar and dares to do it differently.
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