Explore biographies of 1942 personalities today!
Mick Jagger: The Greatest Rock Frontman Was Born in 1942
Born 26 July 1942 in Dartford, Mick Jagger co-founded The Rolling Stones and became the defining frontman of rock and roll — still touring at 80.
Chris
7/15/20263 min read
Who Is Mick Jagger?
Sir Michael Philip Jagger was born on 26 July 1942 in Dartford, Kent. Along with guitarist Keith Richards, he co-founded The Rolling Stones in London in 1962 — and over sixty years later, the band is still one of the highest-grossing live acts in the world.
Jagger is the rare artist who defines his era without being trapped by it. He has released solo records, acted in films, and collaborated with artists from David Bowie to Lenny Kravitz. He was knighted in 2003. In 2023, at the age of 80, he was still performing sold-out arena shows.
The Rolling Stones: A Career in Brief
The Stones emerged from the British R&B scene, drawing heavily on American blues and rhythm and blues. Their early recordings were rawer and more confrontational than The Beatles — by design. Songs like Satisfaction, Paint It Black, Gimme Shelter, and Sympathy for the Devil became cultural touchstones.
The band has survived the death of founding member Brian Jones (1969), the Altamont disaster, decades of internal tension between Jagger and Richards, and the loss of drummer Charlie Watts in 2021. They released a new studio album, Hackney Diamonds, in 2023 — their first in eighteen years.
Books About Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are one of the most-written-about bands in history. Whether you want the full biography, the insider account, or the photographic history, there is a book for it.
- Mick Jagger biographies — Amazon UK
- Rolling Stones books — Amazon UK
- Life by Keith Richards — Amazon UK — Richards' memoir is essential reading for any Stones fan
- Rolling Stones: Fifty Years — Amazon UK
- According to the Rolling Stones — Amazon UK — the band's own illustrated history
Mick Jagger's Solo Work
Away from the Stones, Jagger has released four solo studio albums and collaborated extensively. His 1985 solo debut She's the Boss went platinum. His 1987 collaboration with David Bowie on Dancing in the Street remains one of the most-watched music videos of the era.
Why 1942?
Jagger shares his birth year with Stephen Hawking, Paul McCartney, Muhammad Ali, and Barbra Streisand. It is one of the most remarkable years for births in modern history — a generation that went on to define science, sport, music, and culture for the second half of the twentieth century and beyond.
Browse more personalities born in 1942 on this site, or explore the full range of Rolling Stones books and music on Amazon UK.