Accountant David Stevens quit Mick Jagger’s band before the Rolling Stones frontman was famous

DAVID Stevens walked out on Mick Jagger’s band saying he never thought the singer would amount to anything — and the 90 year old gent doesn’t regret it.

David Stevens, 90 plays in the Corso at Manly with Simon Stribing and Lauri Lyster. Picture: Braden Fastier

HE has played with some of the world’s greatest musicians, including singer Mick Jagger who later went on to front the Rolling Stones.

But northern beaches pianist David Stevens, now 90, chose accountancy instead of rock n roll, and says he doesn’t regret his career choice.

David Stevens on piano with a youthful Mick Jagger singing at the front.

“He was very young, only about 18 or so,” said Mr Stevens of Jagger when they played together in the seminal band, Blues Incorporated.

“I never thought in a million years he would get anywhere,” said Mr Stevens, who lives in Manly.

“I didn’t think any of us would,” he laughed.

And while he liked Jagger’s voice, Mr Stevens said he remarked at the time how he wished he would “stop jumping about” the stage so much.

“I respect what he has done,” said Mr Stevens, despite not being a fan of the Rolling Stones because he “prefers jazz”.

David Stevens in the Corso with Simon Stribing and Lauri Lyster. Picture: Braden Fastier

Mr Stevens said Blues Incoporated was a magnet for outstanding musicians of the time. As well as Jagger, he played with Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts and Ginger Baker, who later co-founded the band Cream with Eric Clapton.

However, in the end he chose “a duller life in accountancy”, as he had a family to look after.

When Blues Incorporated decided to go professional, Mr Stevens left the band, before swapping London’s ‘Swinging 60s’, for a new life in Australia.

While, Jagger is arguably his most famous former bandmate, Mr Stevens said he was most honoured to have played with some of America’s greatest jazz legends Big Bill Broonzy, Josh White and Muddy Waters.

Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards and Mick Jagger in the 1960s.

Still going. Mick Jagger performs during a concert in Havana, Cuba, in March. Picture: AFP

After moving to Australia and building up a successful accountancy business, he continued to play because music is the sort of thing that “grabs you by the throat and won’t let go”.

It seems at the age of 90, Mr Stevens is busier than ever after taking up busking on The Corso. He squeezes in the odd hour here and there in between hosting a weekly community radio jazz show, playing for pensioners at a retirement village in Allambie Heights and the odd gig around Sydney.

He said he doesn’t spend much time thinking about his former London life, but he was reminded of it when he saw a photo of himself and Jagger in a book about the Rolling Stones he picked up at Manly Markets.

“I opened the first page and saw a photo of myself with Mick,” he said.

“I didn’t buy it,” he added.

David Stevens in the Corso. Picture: Braden Fastier