For Mick, these are the worst of times
Legendary lothario left staggered by lover L’Wren Scott’s death
If there is one theme to the later life of Mick Jagger it is the search for, and attainment of, control.
The lyrics of the Rolling Stones may speak to the wild of heart, but the grammar schoolboy from Dartford prefers to rely on his head in matters professional.
Jagger has been supervising the finances of the Stones since his late 20s, and a string of divorce settlements has failed to put a serious dent in a fortune estimated at nearly $500 million. That acumen extends to his persona.
At the age of 70, Jagger still likes being at the top. His appetite for touring, for the adulation of the crowd, appears to be undiminished. After half a century of use, the 28-inch waist and gyrating hips remain miraculously intact.
But this week, Jagger suddenly looks his age. On Monday, Jagger was dining at a restaurant in the Australian city of Perth, venue of the next Stones concert, when he learned from an assistant that L’Wren Scott, 49, and his partner of 13 years, had hanged herself in her New York apartment.
“I am still struggling to understand how my lover and best friend could end her life in this tragic way,” wrote Jagger Tuesday. “We spent many wonderful years together and had made a great life for ourselves. She had great presence and her talent was much admired, not least by me. I have been touched by the tributes that people have paid to her, and also the messages of support that I have received. I will never forget her.”
Jagger and Scott’s relationship was always an enigma with the statuesque beauty almost always in the background as the legendary lothario’s consort du jour.
Scott had worked hard to leave her small-town life in Utah behind. Hollywood’s leading women relied on her for their Oscar-night gowns and cocktail dresses, and she was a member of fashion’s international elite.
Scott met Jagger after he split with Jerry Hall — the mother to four of his seven children. As Hall pointed out, Scott appeared better able to handle Jagger and his desire for sexual independence.
While Jagger’s life was quieter when Scott met him, he still refused to relinquish his independence. And yet, Scott had wanted children and seemingly more of a commitment from Jagger.
“Let me see if I can articulate this in a way that makes sense,” she said. “I have seven wonderful sort-of children in my life, by default. I have four fabulous grandchildren. I feel that being the product of adoption is a wonderful thing, and at the moment, my life is saturated with children. My family life is a high priority.”
In a 2010 interview with The New York Times, Jagger referred to his relationship with Scott as “kind of dating” — and then slammed the institution of marriage.
There are indications that
“She had great presence and her talent was much admired.” MICK JAGGER
Scott’s business, LS Fashion, was suffering financially, running up net debts of $6 million at the end of 2012. The cancellation of her show during London Fashion Week has been attributed to these difficulties. It is not known if Jagger supported the business financially, but Scott’s character suggests she would not have enjoyed being subsidized in her work. However, basic accounts do not tell the whole story, and it is likely that Scott’s overall financial position was a healthy one.
For Jagger, these are the worst of times in a charmed life — the star has already had to put his grief on hold to deny the suggestion that his relationship with Scott ended shortly before her death.
The suggestion of a split was followed by remarks from Lupe Montufar, a former housekeeper of Scott’s, who worked for her in Los Angeles between 1993 and 2009. She told the New York Daily News that the designer tolerated Jagger’s infidelity in the hope of one day having a family with him: “She wanted to get married and have a family, but she didn’t want to get her hopes up or say it out loud to Mick. She didn’t want to pressure him.
“She always dreamed about having fame, fortune and money. She had all that in her hands with him. She sacrificed a lot to be with him. A few years ago, she thought she’d be with him forever and have a family.”
Jagger saw the writing on the wall for recorded music and built his band into the greatest touring machine in rock history. For four decades, he skilfully micromanaged his own image. For the time being, however, he is not in control.