Mick Jagger and Keith Richards Statues Mounted On Their Hometown
Thanks to two bronze monuments built in their honor this week, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards will always be a part of Dartford, Kent, England.
On August 9, a ceremony was held at One Bell Corner in Dartford to reveal the statues. Although neither Richards nor Jagger was present, Richards’ daughter and granddaughter took part in the event, as reported by The Guardian.
Both Jagger and Richards, who were founding members of The Rolling Stones, attended primary school in Dartford. They first met in the town in 1961 at a railway station and later formed the band the following year.
The Origin Story of The Glimmer Twins
The sculptures, known as The Glimmer Twins, as mentioned in a post on the band’s official Facebook page, depict Jagger and Richards in the midst of a performance. The nickname “The Glimmer Twins” dates back to a boat trip Jagger and Richards took to Rio in 1974, as recounted in a 2012 Rolling Stone article.
The name emerged from their desire to keep their identities a bit mysterious during the trip. Richards recalled:
“‘We’ve been asking you for days and you just won’t say. Can’t you give us just a glimmer?’
“Mick turned to me and said, ‘We’re the Glimmer Twins.'”
Iconic Statues Reflecting the 1980s
The statues were designed by artist Amy Goodman and show Jagger and Richards as they appeared in the 1980s. Goodman expressed:
“I was a nervous wreck. There was a lot of pressure because they are such icons.”
These new statues join other tributes to The Rolling Stones that can be found throughout Dartford. The town features streets named after the band’s songs, such as Little Red Walk, Angie Mews, and Ruby Tuesday Drive.
Dartford is approximately 20 miles east of London and has a population of about 116,000 people.
