Mick Jagger Accuses Singer of Ripping Him Off and Doing a Terrible Job “Absolute B*llsh*t”
Photo by Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Borrowing Is Part of Rock History
When a band builds a strong image, others are bound to copy it. The Rolling Stones have never hidden where they came from. From the start, they borrowed heavily from blues music, early rock and soul, and reshaped those sounds into something bold and new. They never pretended otherwise.
Keith Richards once summed it up clearly, saying, “I’ll take anybody’s idea. You can call that collaboration, I call it thieving”. The band wore that mindset proudly. They blended blues grit, James Brown–style showmanship, and bits of Beatles-era flair into a sound that felt loud, loose, and confident.
That mix helped shape popular culture in the late 1960s and beyond. As Pete Townshend later said, “When it comes to classic rock, there’s only The Stones and The Who; that’s it!” Praise like that only made their influence harder to escape.
When Influence Turns Personal
As new bands rose in the 1970s, many tried to match the Stones’ swagger. Mick Jagger noticed. While some styles like hair metal embarrassed him, others felt closer to home. Jagger believed certain singers were not just inspired by him but copying him outright.
One of those singers was Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler. Jagger did not question Tyler’s character, but he did question his act. Speaking in 1977, Jagger tried to soften his words before delivering the hit. “[He’s] quite a nice guy, mind you,” he said, before adding, “He’s almost too bloody sweet. He’s very kind to me, anyway.”
Still, the criticism kept coming. “He’s such a little sweetheart, really – what can you do with him?” Jagger asked. He then joked about a possible response: “Punch ‘im in the mouth? Here, what are you playing at, fuckin’ impersonating me? – Slam!”
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Harsh Words and Lasting Tension
While the two singers never fought, Jagger did not hide his dislike for Aerosmith’s style. Over the years, he labeled the band “rubbish” and “absolute bullshit.” The words stung, but they did little to slow Aerosmith’s rise.
In fact, Aerosmith went on to become one of the most successful rock bands ever, selling millions of records worldwide. Like the Stones, they took inspiration from older music and reshaped it for a new generation. Steven Tyler never denied the similarities.
When Aerosmith were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Tyler joked, “I wonder if this’ll put an end to ‘Hey, aren’t you Mick Jagger?” The comment showed he was aware of the comparison and willing to laugh at it.
Aerosmith Pushes Back
Aerosmith members have long argued that the likeness stops at the surface. They insist their sound is heavier and built on a different feel. Drummer Joey Kramer made that clear during a Louder Sound interview.
“Everybody is always raving about the Stones, saying the Stones this and the Stones that,” Kramer said. “I’ve never cared for the Stones. They never had anything to offer me musically, especially in the drumming department”. He added that Aerosmith aimed for a bigger and fuller sound.
Those comments reflected how deep the divide could run. While both bands came from similar roots, they believed they took very different paths.
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Praise From Other Corners
Despite Jagger’s criticism, many musicians have praised Steven Tyler’s talent. Alice Cooper once called him a “10/10” vocalist. Songwriter Diane Warren also spoke highly of him, saying that “hearing [his] voice was one of those moments I’ll never forget.”
These mixed views are nothing new in rock history. Public clashes, sharp quotes, and long memories have always been part of the genre. For fans, these moments often add to the legend.
In the end, influence, rivalry, and opinion continue to circle each other. Some hear imitation. Others hear evolution. The debate remains as loud as the music itself.
Tyler’s Favorite Stones Songs
‘I’m a King Bee’
‘Brown Sugar’
‘Rip This Joint’
‘Get Off Of My Cloud’
‘Something Happened To Me Yesterday’
‘Hot Stuff’
‘Memory Motel’
‘The Spider And The Fly’
‘She Said Yeah’
