'Please allow me to introduce myself, I’m a man of wealth and taste' - Mick Jagger turns 75

Yet because of the song content and fan pandemonium, Jagger became known as the bad boy of rock and it increased the band’s popularity tremendously. Jagger’s stage presence, still today, can be anywhere from fun to raunchy, but he knows exactly how to make an audience go wild — the elusive “it” factor that appealed to both men and women when the band was growing in popularity.

And with that appeal, Jagger used the stage as a fashion runway. Whether he donned a U.K. flag as a cape or a sequined cropped jacket, he knew how to turn heads and keep people talking. Edgy, yet flashy. Flamboyant, yet smooth. Cool, yet seductive. He brought a keen sense of style, sexiness and confidence to the rock and roll world. There was no uniform look to this band. It was more of leather jackets and mismatched outfits.The Stones ultimately created the glam rock look that many punk artists have taken a liking to today. 

Jagger’s natural look carried the band’s appeal even further. His enticing, pouty lips became the band’s legendary logo to help push the sexual boundaries. He reached out to London art student John Pasche to create an album logo, and although Jagger was enthralled with the tongue of Hindu goddess Kali, Pasche was intrigued by Jagger’s own look and used it as inspiration for the lip logo which was initially set as a new album visual in 1969. Since then, the logo has become a symbol of the Stones. It can be seen on anything from shirts to stage designs. 

Visual branding and marketing are essential for an artist to connect with their audience and Jagger built on that. He reached out to artist Andy Warhol to create and out-of-ordinary cover for the “Sticky Fingers” album that was more than just fold-out pages. So Warhol designed the cover with an actual zipper, and when pulled down it revealed underwear. This added to Mick’s sex appeal, but whether Mick is the model for the cover remains a mystery. 

It wasn’t until two decades after the band formed that Jagger decided to break away and set himself apart artistically and creatively. In 1985, he released his solo debut album, “She’s the Boss,” which featured work from Nile Rodgers, Herbie Hancock and Jeff Beck. Jagger’s solo effort was about trying something different, yet still having the freedom to be in the band. 

The roots of that effort may have started earlier in the decade when Jagger started having different creative opinions with fellow bandmate Keith Richards. While Richards wanted to stick with the band’s roots of rock and blues, Jagger was adamant about reinventing the band’s sound to more pop and dance. And that is what he attempted with his first single, “Just Another Night,” which reached No. 12 on the charts but his second single, “Lucky In Love,” barely hit the Top 40. His following albums received solid reviews with some reaching gold status. Even so, his solo career wasn’t nearly as successful as his career with The Rolling Stones. (And that is not unusual, given the history of artists who try to make it on their own.)

From his songwriting to his showmanship, Jagger has inspired other artists. Throughout his career, he’s worked with greats such as Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Lenny Kravitz and Jack White, while influencing other bands including Aerosmith, AC/DC and Pearl Jam. Maroon 5 even recruited Christina Aguilera to dedicate an entire song to him properly titled, “Moves Like Jagger.”

He’s accomplished what many artists wish they could — longevity. He knows his worth to audiences, and, as he’s gearing up on a nearly 60-year career, The Rolling Stones are still selling out tours worldwide. The fans who first came to know him back in the ‘60s have passed their love for his music on to the newer fans. As he celebrates his 75th birthday, Jagger is an artist who will be brought up in any rock conversation for generations to come.