Mick Jagger recently revealed he intentionally avoided meeting Elvis Presley after receiving advice from John Lennon. During an appearance on the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast, the 82-year-old Rolling Stones frontman expressed regret over the decision, noting that Lennon warned him, “You should never meet your heroes.” Jagger admitted that skipping the encounter was “really stupid,” as he now wishes he had experienced a meeting with the King of Rock and Roll.
The Origin of the Lennon-Presley Disappointment
John Lennon’s cautionary advice stemmed from the Beatles’ own meeting with Presley, which took place during the band’s 1965 U.S. tour at his Bel Air mansion. According to Tony Barrow, the Beatles’ press officer at the time, the encounter was largely underwhelming. Barrow told The Guardian that Lennon was disappointed because he hoped to encounter the raw, early rock ‘n’ roll version of Presley. Instead, he found an artist focused on film soundtracks. Lennon famously remarked that the meeting was “about as exciting as meeting Engelbert Humperdinck.”
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While the conversation between the Beatles and Presley was reportedly stilted, the atmosphere shifted once they began playing music. Tony Barrow noted that the party “took off” only when the artists picked up guitars and started jamming together.
Why Jagger Chose Not to Risk the Myth
Jagger’s decision to follow Lennon’s advice was rooted in a desire to preserve his own idealized version of Presley. “I wanted to keep my Elvis to myself,” Jagger explained on the podcast. He feared that a face-to-face meeting would shatter the image he had constructed in his mind. However, with the benefit of hindsight, Jagger acknowledges that his personal experience with Presley might have turned out differently than the Beatles’ encounter.
The Evolution of Celebrity Encounters
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why did Mick Jagger not meet Elvis Presley? Jagger avoided the meeting because John Lennon advised him that meeting one’s heroes is often disappointing.
- What did John Lennon think of his meeting with Elvis? Lennon was underwhelmed, comparing the experience to meeting crooner Engelbert Humperdinck.
- Did the Beatles and Elvis Presley get along? Their initial conversation was strained, but they bonded once they started jamming on guitars, according to Tony Barrow.
What do you think? Would you prefer to keep your musical heroes as myths, or would you risk the disappointment of a real-life meeting? Share your thoughts in the comments below or subscribe to our newsletter for more deep dives into rock history.
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