Mick Jagger (Collaborator)

Lore & Background

Jagger's connection with Bowie centers on their 1985 duet 'Dancing in the Street', a single that reached No. 1 in the UK and Australia and was a top-ten hit in other countries. Jagger, who had co-written most of the Rolling Stones' songs with Keith Richards and had released solo works beginning in the 1980s, brought his distinctive voice and energetic style to the track. The duet was part of a period when Jagger was expanding his solo career, having released four solo albums by that time. For fans, this single represents a rare intersection of two distinct musical paths—Jagger's blues-rooted rock and Bowie's chameleonic pop—capturing a moment of mutual respect and commercial success.

In Their Own Story

In 1985, Mick Jagger and David Bowie entered the studio to record 'Dancing in the Street', a duet that would become a chart-topping hit. The single reached No. 1 in the UK and Australia and cracked the top ten in other countries, marking a high-profile collaboration between two giants of British rock. Jagger, who had already spent more than two decades as the lead singer of the Rolling Stones and had begun releasing solo material, brought his trademark vocal energy to the track. The recording session was a meeting of equals: Jagger, the co-writer of most Stones songs and a knighted figure in popular music, and Bowie, the shape-shifting innovator. The result was a polished pop-rock single that dominated radio airwaves and music television, cementing a brief but memorable partnership.

Reader's Guide

Mick Jagger appears in David Bowie's story as a guest collaborator on the 1985 single 'Dancing in the Street'. His role is defined by his distinctive voice and his status as the lead singer and founder member of the Rolling Stones, a band with which he co-wrote most songs alongside Keith Richards. Jagger's career had spanned more than six decades by the time of this duet, and he had already released four solo albums beginning in the 1980s. His arc within this context is brief but commercially significant: the duet reached No. 1 in the UK and Australia and was a top-ten hit in other countries. Jagger brings no supernatural abilities, but his real-world charisma and vocal style—honed through decades of live performances with the Stones—complement Bowie's theatrical approach. The defining moment is the 1985 release of 'Dancing in the Street', a single that stands as the primary documented collaboration between the two artists. This event is often cited as a highlight of mid-1980s pop-rock crossovers, showcasing Jagger's ability to step outside his band's blues-rock foundation and engage with a broader pop audience.

Did You Know?

• Jagger co-wrote most of the Rolling Stones' songs with lead guitarist Keith Richards, a partnership considered one of the most successful in rock music history.
• He was knighted in 2003 for his services to popular music.
• Jagger's duet with David Bowie, 'Dancing in the Street', reached No. 1 in the UK and Australia in 1985.
• Jagger studied finance and accounting at the London School of Economics before leaving to pursue music with the Rolling Stones.
• He has eight children with five women.