The Rolling Stones
Blue & Lonesome

Mick Jagger, aged 73.

Keith Richards, aged 72 (but only for a few more days).

Ron Wood, aged 70.

Charlie Watts, aged 75.

On December 2, 2016, "Blue And Lonesome" was released, another studio album by the Rolling Stones - I've lost count of how many there are - eleven years after "A Bigger Bang".

There was a time when the Rolling Stones were the greatest rock'n'roll band on the face of the earth.

But rock'n'roll is the music of the young and the Rolling Stones haven't been young since before I was born.

When you're old, passion and energy wane, even inspiration is lacking.

The desire to replenish the bank account, that never wanes.

So they set up a calculated operation that would be a record where they play old tracks by legendary bluesmen once again, from Willie Dixon to Howlin’ Wolf, from Little Walter to Magic Sam.

Since imagination is also lacking, the cover is what it is.

The success, however, is guaranteed.

Now, if I want to hear some good old blues, I listen to the originals.

Then, if I want to hear the Rolling Stones grappling with the blues, I pull out my copy of "Sticky Fingers" or "Exile On Main Street," years of grace 1971 and 1972, when the Stones were young and beautiful and still knew what it meant to really play and not for Mammon, and were honest enough to do it.

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You're likely to read many such absurdities in the coming days.

I started reading them even before the album came out but I didn’t care.

You do as you prefer.