Mick Jagger Talks Difficult Year: Watch The Video

Mick Jagger spoke out this morning for the first time since the death of his girlfriend, L’Wren Scott. The fashion designer, who counted Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman and Madonna among her fans, died of an apparent suicide in March. According to a Guardian profile in June, friends described Scott as “thoughtful”, “kind” and “sweet-natured.” She and Jagger had been a couple for 13 years.

In the months since the great personal loss, Mick has made news for his tour with the Rolling Stones – the band took a brief hiatus after the tragedy – and his reported tryst with a young woman. Mick has chosen to remain private and not respond to media questions or scrutiny.

Mick had told media the day after L’Wren’s passing that he would “never forget her,” and further said in a statement “I am still struggling to understand how my lover and best friend could end her life in this tragic way.” The rock icon then went into silent mode did not offer any further statements until today.

Speaking to Matt Lauer on Today, Mick responded briefly to questions about how he has been handling the past year. In a pre-taped interview he credited his work and family for getting him through it:

I’m doing OK. It was difficult, you know, very hard year, but I got back into it by working on touring with the Stones in Europe, and doing other things, including this great movie.

That “great movie” is Get On Up, a new biopic about James Brown which is set for August 1st release. Watch Mick talk about the project, and his personal life, with the cast below:

The James Brown biopic has been in development for many years. Rolling Stone reported in October 2012 that Brown himself had his hand in production before he passed away in 2006. Jagger and fellow producer Brian Grazer had the support of Brown’s widow, Tommie Rae Brown, to continue the project. She said, “I am deeply honored that Mick Jagger and Brian Grazer, two of my husband James Brown’s favorite people, have entered into a partnership to bring his inspirational story to the big screen.”

In addition to Brian Grazer and Mick Jagger behind the scenes, Get On Up boasts director Tate Taylor, who also wrote and directed The Help. Octavia Spencer, who won an Academy Award for The Help, also has a part in Get On Up, as Aunt Honey. Chadwick Boseman plays James Brown. As they discuss in the clip above, it was not merely Boseman’s acting, but his ability to pull off Brown’s extreme dance moves, that impressed Grazer and Jagger.

[Image: Google]