In writing his book, The Sun & The Moon & The Rolling Stones, Rich Cohen had a unique insider’s access to Mick Jagger, one of the most famous rock n’ rollers of all time. But what struck Cohen the most was Jagger’s seeming lack of what we might call an inner core. Cohen writes:

When you interview Mick Jagger, you become aware of a strange phenomenon … As he talks, you look at your tape recorder and think, “I’m a fisherman catching wonderful things in my nets.” Every turn of phrase feels like a scoop summoned by your own trusting presence. But later, when those interviews are transcribed, you realize your nets are empty. Once again, the mythical beast has slipped away …

You want to peg him and walk away but can’t; so you keep listening forever. It’s a paradox … He’s among the most famous people in the world, but who is he really? Does anyone know? Does even he know?

Possible Preaching Angle: Emptiness; Fame; Worldliness – This interview highlights the emptiness of celebrity when combined with a life of hedonism. Ultimately this is what Jesus describes as one who “gains the whole world but loses his own soul” (Matt. 16:26).

Source: Rich Cohen, “The Sun & The Moon & The Rolling Stones,” Spiegel and Grau (Random House, 2016), page 96