Photograph: Mark Seliger – The Guardian

The Rolling Stones: Masters of Reinvention

Back in ’72, Mick Jagger boldly declared, “When I’m 33, I’ll quit – I don’t want to be a rock star all my life. I couldn’t bear to be like Elvis Presley and sing in Las Vegas with all those housewives and old ladies coming in with their handbags. It’s really sick.”

Well, Jagger didn’t exactly take the Elvis route to Vegas, and here I am, ready with my handbag, hoping the Stones keep rocking in the next decade.

Now, why am I gushing about the Stones in a second act of life thread? Simple. It’s a shoutout to their insane vitality and creativity. Kudos not just for mind-blowing concerts, but for continually creating new music, captivating the world and my rock’n roll heart with their timeless sound.

Their secret sauce? Not continuity, but transformation. Think about it – how many musical trends have they surfed in their 50-year saga? Repeating hits? Nah, that’s not their style. Re-invention is in their rock’n roll DNA. There were silent Stones periods, but when they resurfaced, it was magic, uncompromised by time.

The other gem? The power of the team. Tabloids whisper, but they’ve weathered storms. In reinvention, relationships matter. They created magic together, over and over.

Sometimes, a good visual speaks volumes. When I see someone feeling discouraged about their career, I want to hit “play” on “Angry,” from the Stones’ latest album. A joyful, provocative nod to their journey, seen through the eyes of a young actress born way after they started. I love it – honoring the past, not taking themselves seriously, welcoming the new, and still offering fresh vibes to the world.

So, when life gets tough, here’s to the Rolling Stones, the masters of reinvention, and a reminder that it’s never too late to rock on!