Published: Friday, February 3, 2006
The 'Queen of Soul' will sing the national anthem.
The 'Queen of Soul' will sing the national anthem.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
DETROIT — The Super Bowl has another showdown to add to the lore of Bud vs. Bud Lite.
No, not Joey Porter vs. Jerramy Stevens. We're talking Mick vs. Aretha.
For about 10 minutes Thursday, Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Keith Richards enthralled about 1,000 credential media with a song-and-dance shtick, dodging questions while inspiring laughs.
The Stones will be the halftime performers for Sunday's game between the Steelers and Seahawks at Ford Field.
Earlier in the week, Detroit's Aretha Franklin criticized the NFL for not using Motown legends for the most-watched entertainment moment of the year.
Asked if the Stones would pay tribute to Motown, Jagger replied, "You mean are we going to do a Marvin Gaye tune?
"The thing about the NFL is that they run a good show but occasionally they make a mistake like everybody," Jagger said. "And they were quick to rectify it and I think that's pretty good. I think Motown will be well-represented."
The Queen of Soul will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the opening kickoff.
The Stones are keeping Sunday's setlist a secret, but revealed there won't be many songs.
"We won't get in four or five in 12 minutes," Jagger said. "We'll have to boil it down to three."
"It'll be hardboiling," Richards quipped.
Previous blunders
The Stones' performance comes just two years after Janet Jackson's exposed breast forced the NFL to seize control of the halftime show's content.
Considering their bad boy reputation that was cultivated four decades ago, Jagger was asked if the Rolling Stones have moved closer to mainstream American culture or has the culture moved closer to you?
"I think both," Jagger said. "America has obviously changed since we came first here — it's almost unrecognizable to be honest with you.
"It's very hard to imagine what the United States was like 40 years ago — it was not like this. The Super Bowl was not a worldwide event," Jagger said. "We've grown and America has changed a great deal ... Hopefully both of us still have our core values intact."
Asked how their reputation might affect Sunday's show, Richards shot back, "Got any ideas?"
Live performance
Unlike past Super Bowl halftime performers, the Stones will play live without a prerecorded backing track.
Jagger said ABC executives don't need to worry about bleeping the band.
"The networks are always worried about how many times you say [expletive] on the air," said Jagger who then joked that "they heard that Aretha was going to strip during the national anthem.
"They need not worry about it."
What about nerves from playing before a televised audience of more than 130 million?
"I'm trembling in my boots," Richards joked.
Jagger turned to his partner and asked "What are we gonna play?"
Probably not "R-E-S-P-E-C-T."
williams@vindy.com
Friday, February 3, 2006
The 'Queen of Soul' will sing the national anthem.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
DETROIT — The Super Bowl has another showdown to add to the lore of Bud vs. Bud Lite.
No, not Joey Porter vs. Jerramy Stevens. We're talking Mick vs. Aretha.
For about 10 minutes Thursday, Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Keith Richards enthralled about 1,000 credential media with a song-and-dance shtick, dodging questions while inspiring laughs.
The Stones will be the halftime performers for Sunday's game between the Steelers and Seahawks at Ford Field.
Earlier in the week, Detroit's Aretha Franklin criticized the NFL for not using Motown legends for the most-watched entertainment moment of the year.
Asked if the Stones would pay tribute to Motown, Jagger replied, "You mean are we going to do a Marvin Gaye tune?
"The thing about the NFL is that they run a good show but occasionally they make a mistake like everybody," Jagger said. "And they were quick to rectify it and I think that's pretty good. I think Motown will be well-represented."
The Queen of Soul will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the opening kickoff.
The Stones are keeping Sunday's setlist a secret, but revealed there won't be many songs.
"We won't get in four or five in 12 minutes," Jagger said. "We'll have to boil it down to three."
"It'll be hardboiling," Richards quipped.
Previous blunders
The Stones' performance comes just two years after Janet Jackson's exposed breast forced the NFL to seize control of the halftime show's content.
Considering their bad boy reputation that was cultivated four decades ago, Jagger was asked if the Rolling Stones have moved closer to mainstream American culture or has the culture moved closer to you?
"I think both," Jagger said. "America has obviously changed since we came first here — it's almost unrecognizable to be honest with you.
"It's very hard to imagine what the United States was like 40 years ago — it was not like this. The Super Bowl was not a worldwide event," Jagger said. "We've grown and America has changed a great deal ... Hopefully both of us still have our core values intact."
Asked how their reputation might affect Sunday's show, Richards shot back, "Got any ideas?"
Live performance
Unlike past Super Bowl halftime performers, the Stones will play live without a prerecorded backing track.
Jagger said ABC executives don't need to worry about bleeping the band.
"The networks are always worried about how many times you say [expletive] on the air," said Jagger who then joked that "they heard that Aretha was going to strip during the national anthem.
"They need not worry about it."
What about nerves from playing before a televised audience of more than 130 million?
"I'm trembling in my boots," Richards joked.
Jagger turned to his partner and asked "What are we gonna play?"
Probably not "R-E-S-P-E-C-T."
williams@vindy.com
Friday, February 3, 2006
The Super Bowl has another showdown to add to the lore of Bud vs. Bud Lite.
No, not Joey Porter vs. Jerramy Stevens....
