The Rolling Stones’ ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’: How Mick Jagger Reacted to Devo’s Unique Cover

Devo released a version of The Rolling Stones‘ “(I Can’t Get No Satisfaction)” that didn’t sound like the version Mick Jagger and company created. During an interview, members of Devo discussed playing their rendition of the song in front of Jagger. The rock icon had a strong reaction to Devo’s rendition.

What Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh thought of ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’

During an interview with Rolling Stone, Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh revealed he’s a massive fan of Jagger. He thinks Jagger is one of the most underrated lyricists of his time. Mothersbaugh said “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” has some of the best lyrics in rock ‘n’ roll history.

Devo’s Gerald Casale discussed meeting Jagger to play the cover for him. “[Jagger] was just looking down at the floor swirling his glass of red wine,” Casale told The New Yorker. “He didn’t even have shoes on, just socks and some velour pants. I don’t know what his habits were then, but this was early afternoon and it looked like he had just gotten up.”

What The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger did when he heard the cover

Jagger listened to Devo’s “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” in silence for about 30 seconds. “He suddenly stood up and started dancing around on this Afghan rug in front of the fireplace — the sort of rooster-man dance he used to do, and saying ‘I like it, I like it,'” Casale said. “Mark and I lit up, big smiles on our faces, like in Wayne’s World: ‘We’re not worthy!'”

Casale explained why he and Mothersbaugh were so happy at that moment. “To see your icon that you grew up admiring, that you had seen in concert, dancing around like Mick Jagger being Mick Jagger,” he recalled. “It was unbelievable.”

“We were less than nothing,” Mothersbaugh said. “We were just these artists that nobody had ever heard of, from Akron, Ohio.”

The way the world reacted to The Rolling Stones’ ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ and Devo’s cover

The original version of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was a huge hit. It spent four of those weeks on the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and 14 total weeks on the chart. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” appeared on the version of The Rolling Stones’ album Out of Our Heads released in the United States. Out of Our Heads spent three weeks atop the Billboard 200 and 65 total weeks on the chart.

Devo’s “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Devo’s cover appeared on Q. Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, the band’s debut album. Q. Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! peaked at No. 78 on the Billboard 200 and stayed on the chart for 18 weeks. While Devo’s cover wasn’t a hit, Jagger enjoyed it.