Mick Jagger at 80 - kids, fiancée and secret behind energetic performances

26 July 2023 , 10:48
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Mick Jagger at 80 - kids, fiancée and secret behind energetic performances
Mick Jagger at 80 - kids, fiancée and secret behind energetic performances

With his zest for life and sprightly stage presence, it's hard to believe Sir Mick Jagger is 80.

The Rolling Stones star celebrates the milestone today surrounded by friends, family and a host of star-studded pals.

Since bursting onto the scenes with a cover of Chuck Berry's Come On in 1961, the singer has amassed legions of loyal fans around the world.

And despite being a great-grandfather, the Dartford-born rocker is showing no signs of slowing down as he continues to tour with bandmates, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood.

So, as we wish the former hospital porter many happy returns of the day, here's the lowdown on the life of the Brown Sugar star.

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Kids

Mick has eight children, Karis, Jade, Elizabeth, James, Georgia May, Lucas, Gabriel and Deveraux.

Mick Jagger at 80 - kids, fiancée and secret behind energetic performancesMick Jagger had four children with Jerry Hall (Getty Images)

The Rolling Stones legend welcomed his first child, daughter Karis, 52, with actress Marsha Hunt in 1970. The following year, he wed ex-wife Bianca Jagger and had daughter Jade, 51.

Mick also shares four kids with ex-wife Jerry Hall, whom he was married to from 1990 to 1997: daughters Elizabeth, 39, and Georgia May, 31, and sons James, 37, and Gabriel, 25.

He welcomed son Lucas, 24, with model Luciana Morad Gimenez in 1999. And in 2016, Jagger's youngest child, son Deveraux, 6, whom he shares with fiancée Melanie Hamrick, was born.

The singer is also a great-grandfather after his granddaughter Assisi Jackson gave birth to a baby girl in 2021.

Fiancée

Mick and Melanie Hamrick have been dating since 2014. The former ballerina met the singer in Japan when The Rolling Stones were on tour in Tokyo.

Mick Jagger at 80 - kids, fiancée and secret behind energetic performancesMick recently got engaged with dancer Melanie Hamrick (Gregory Pace/REX/Shutterstock)
Mick Jagger at 80 - kids, fiancée and secret behind energetic performancesDeveraux is already following in his dad's footsteps (INSTAGRAM)

They didn't go official with their relationship until Mick invited the dancer to join him for his band's stop in Zurich.

On December 8, 2016, Melanie gave birth to the couple's son, Deveraux "Devi" Octavian Basil Jagger.

A rep for the couple released a statement after the tot's arrival, saying: "Melanie Hamrick and Mick Jagger's son was born today in New York and they are both delighted," the statement read. "Mick was at the hospital for the arrival. Mother and baby are doing well."

Over the years, Deveraux has expressed an interest in music and dance just like his parents. He's even been spotted supporting his dad at concerts and at the ballet with his mum .

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"He dances a ton," Melanie told The New York Times of her son in 2019. "I don't have him in classes yet. He plays the ukulele and makes up songs. He's got the gene ."

Secret behind energetic gigs

The Rolling Stones have navigated a well-documented journey with drink and narcotics, with Mick previously confessing he "did too many drugs".

Speaking to Larry King, the father-of-eight admitted to being high or drunk on stage in his his younger days, but maintains it's something of the past.

Mick Jagger at 80 - kids, fiancée and secret behind energetic performancesHe's still got it! (Redferns)

However, after rocking the stage at Hyde Park's BST gig last summer for more than two hours, many wondered how the then septuagenarian stayed so fit after years of partying.

Mick had the energy of a man a third of his age as he writhed around on stage, belting out his greatest hits.

The star, whose father was a P.E teacher, is said to maintain his energy - and 28-inch waist - with a diet consisting primarily of fresh fruit and veg, chicken and fish.

Mick also undertakes regular interval training, which allows him to sing, run across stage and then talk to the crowd afterwards.

The Stones' dressing room co-ordinator, Heather Foster Kjollesdal, previously shed light on the star's warm-up routine before a gig, saying: I've never seen what goes on, I know there's music. He probably just loosens up his limbs.

'He's absolutely incredible'

“From what I understand from his trainer, he trains like that. Before the tour, he'll do serious training for four or five minutes and then he'll bring his heart rate down.

“So it's very much interval training. That's why he can sing a song, run across the stage, and then the song ends and he's talking to the crowd and he's not out of breath.

“He's absolutely incredible.”

Speaking about performing one of his most iconic songs, Mick said: "I can do Jumpin' Jack Flash in the bath at midnight, on my head. I don't need to rehearse to do that, I really don't."

He also said of putting on the best show he could: "You just give the best show you can – even if you feel terrible, you’ve got a cold, your back’s aching and all that crap.

"You do it because you are putting yourself on the line and those people have paid good money to see you, and you better be bloody good.”

So, as he embarks upon his eighth decade we wish Sir Mick many happy returns of the day and look forward to seeing him perform again soon!

Victoria Johns

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