"No friction between Mick and Keith"

Charlie Watts says that there's no more friction between soul brothers Mick Jagger and Keith Richards than there is with any normal siblings.

Watts spoke to Uncut about the Stones' long career and the new Martin Scorsese-directed concert film Shine A Light, and talked candidly about Jagger and Richards' relationship, explaining, "There never really is any friction, it's just a question of how they perceive things. Mick sees everything one way, and Keith often sees it another, so if they don't agree on things one's often thinking, 'Why did he say that?' I don't think that's rivalry... They're like brothers, so they seriously get stroppy with each other but will turn around and be in love."

When asked about Richards' legendary temper, Watts revealed, "I think he shows his temper quicker, that all. Keith will say that he'll hit you, but most likely won't, while Mick wouldn't even say it."

He spoke about his own relationships with Jagger and Richards: "Honestly, I almost know what Keith thinks. It's like we've been in the same class for so long, and we've been through so much together... I think Mick has become a nicer bloke as we've gotten older... Wisdom has brought some mellowing maybe... I always got on with Mick, but I find him much easier to talk to now than when we were younger."

Jagger and Richards explained that the setlists to their concerts usually are decided by Jagger, and that there's no great message in each show's sequencing: [ Click to listen if you have a backstage pass] "(Richards) Michael, he comes up with the setlists, because he's gotta sing 'em, you know? Unless I say suddenly, 'Hey Mick, you've got 10 songs in the same key,' I don't interfere, so we make it up -- the man's gotta sing 'em, you know? (Jagger) You pick the one you think is best for the night, really. I wasn't thinking, 'God, this is a metaphor...' (Richards) It might be a sore throat."

The Rolling Stones' Shine A Light is in theaters now.
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