Mick Jagger Explains That "Mad Mogul" Lyric About Musk: It Was Actually a Backhanded Compliment

Mick Jagger has addressed a lyric on The Rolling Stones' new album that some listeners took as a shot at Elon Musk. In an interview with The New York Times, Jagger clarified what he meant by calling Musk a "mad mogul" on the track "Mr Charm," from the band's just-released 25th studio album, Foreign Tongues.

"You just heard the word Musk"

According to NME, Jagger pushed back on the interpretation, saying critics "heard one word and didn't listen to the whole line." He admitted he does call Musk "mad" in the lyric, but says the intent behind it has been misread.

Jagger explained the line grew out of his childhood dream of going to Mars and the question of who you'd actually trust to get you into space. When NASA couldn't provide a ride, he said, it was Musk's SpaceX that brought stranded astronauts back to Earth — "it's actually a backhanded compliment, because he's the guy who did it when other people couldn't." Jagger also conceded the word choice was imperfect: "Mogul doesn't always sound comfortable either."

Foreign Tongues and the Speaking In Tongues podcast

Foreign Tongues is The Rolling Stones' 25th studio album, featuring collaborations with Paul McCartney, The Cure's Robert Smith, Steve Winwood, and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, along with archival recordings from the late drummer Charlie Watts. NME gave the album three and a half stars, calling it "fresh and refined."

Alongside the release, the band launched a six-episode official podcast series, Speaking In Tongues, narrated by Norah Jones and featuring new interviews with Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and Charlie Watts.

Jagger also told NME he's been enjoying Sam Fender's album People Watching, and revealed he's already writing material for the follow-up to Foreign Tongues.