Not every band is destined to remain harmonious when the music stops. While bandmates might feel like siblings during a perfect performance, they’re ultimately co-workers, often navigating obligations they’d rather avoid. Despite The Rolling Stones’ decades of shared experiences, Mick Jagger hasn’t always been enamored with everything they’ve created together.
Reflecting on their 1960s catalog, a few duds were inevitable. After all, Jagger and Keith Richards were still finding their footing as songwriters—forced to collaborate by manager Andrew Loog Oldham. Once they hit their stride, however, they churned out timeless hits like “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” Yet, when they veered beyond their blues-rock comfort zone, things became shaky.
Jagger has never been shy about disliking Their Satanic Majesties Request, a misguided attempt to rival The Beatles’ psychedelic adventures. Even Between the Buttons, while a stepping stone for the band, bore a resemblance to the Fab Four’s approach, particularly with its ballads.
By the 1980s, the MTV era presented an entirely new challenge. While they launched the decade strong with Tattoo You and its smash hit “Start Me Up,” the glitz of neon and spandex didn’t align with the Stones’ aesthetic. Albums like Dirty Work felt more like contractual obligations than passionate projects, and it showed.
Jagger’s lack of involvement on Dirty Work was palpable. Songs like “Back to Zero” exuded disinterest, while Richards used tracks like “Had It With You” to vent his frustrations about Jagger’s detachment. At the time, Jagger was focused on his solo ventures, and his lyrics about returning to the jungle seemed like a veiled desire to escape the band altogether.
To be fair, Jagger’s solo career wasn’t groundbreaking either. While it explored sounds The Stones hadn’t touched, attempts like his duet with David Bowie on “Dancing in the Street” were far from the triumphs he might have hoped for. The infamous music video hasn’t aged gracefully, either.
Luckily, the tension didn’t last forever. By the time Voodoo Lounge rolled around in the mid-1990s, “The Glimmer Twins” were back on track, delivering what fans had been craving since the late ’70s. Dirty Work, however, stands as a reminder that sometimes even legends need a break from one another to reignite the spark.