Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger has done some interviews about his White House performance at the all-star concert celebrating blues music. As previously reported, the event took place at the White House in Washington, D.C., on February 21, 2012. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama were among those in the audience. PBS is scheduled to televise the event in the U.S. on February 27, 2012, at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.
Here are excerpts from the interviews:
How was performing at the White House? Were you nervous?
I wasn't really nervous. I don't know why I wasn't nervous. I don't really get nervous. The only thing that makes me nervous is live television, and I didn't even know it was going to be live streamed! Because live television is live television and you get slightly worried. But the actual gig, when you've done the rehearsal on the stage the day before and you've gone through everything and everything seems to be fine, you don't really get nervous. I don't anyway. But everyone seemed to be very relaxed.
I got that feeling, the performers weren't really that nervous. It's a difficult strange room because you're not in a club, and the president's there, but when it comes down to it, in the end when you're up there and you're playing, once you start the first few bars, you're doing what you do. That's how I think of it.
Any special plans for the Stones' 50th anniversary this year?
We have lots of special things planned, but I'm not telling you what they are!
Not even one thing?
Well, I don't know what's been announced and what hasn't been announced, but everyone asks me about the shows. We haven't announced any shows yet, but I do hope that something happens, even though nothing's booked. There will be lots of lovely things.
Did the president and first lady have any thoughts for you after the show?
I saw them before. I saw him at the rehearsal and the first lady was very kind to wear L’Wren Scott, [the fashion line of Jagger’s girlfriend, L’Wren Scott], so that was a very nice added extra.
You sounded good up there alongside Jeff Beck, but did Keith not get an invite?
I don’t know anything about the invites or who was playing with who. I was just asked to do the gig and I accepted. I didn’t even really know who was coming. There were a lot of people who were asked. I was expecting to be playing with James Cotton, which I was really looking forward to, but he wasn’t [available]. And we didn’t really know that B.B. was going to come — that was a bit last minute. But I think there were a lot of very interesting people [on the bill].
Jagger, 68, said he's never been invited to play at the White House before — or for any head of state — and he rated it a "surreal gig experience."
"I loved it," he said. "It was really unusual, surreal, and strange, but very enjoyable. ... I went out there and I tried to put out my best."
What's next for Jagger? He said he's on a minivacation on the East Coast with his kids, and they were heading out the door to play soccer.
But will the Stones get together this year for a 50th anniversary tour?
"I hope we certainly do something," he said. "It would be very appropriate, I think, and I look forward to doing something. But nothing is yet booked."
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