The Rolling Stones Experience

Sharks Football Club: Jumping John Jives like Mr Jagger

THE Rolling Stones Experience is hailed as ’so accurate and authentic, you have to convince yourself that they are not the real thing’.

Make up your own mind when the popular tribute to The Stones arrives at Southport Sharks on January 25.

Tribute artist John van Zyl struts on the stage as the iconic Mick Jagger, backed by his band members, who take on the identities of Stones members Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ron Wood.

Seagulls: Stones man is planted in song

Over the years Elvis Presley has been spotted everywhere from McDonalds to the Gold Coast mayoral race, but he is not the only celebrity that gets about - you see, Mick Jagger works at Bunnings.

Yep, Sir Michael Phillip Jagger works at the hardware store chains Southport operation - helping the people of the Gold Coast Tweed get just the right equipment to “paint it black”.

Mick Jagger works at Bunnings

The Rolling Stones legendary frontman Mick Jagger has been spotted working at Bunnings.

Complete with trademark big lips and a rock-star hair do, the only thing giving this impersonator away is his name tag and day job.

You see by day John van Zyl works in a Bunnings nursery at Southport, but by night he rocks the Tweed and Gold Coast with his Stones tribute band.

Mr van Zyl said it was a laugh to impersonate Sir Mick, and he had become so convincing at it, he was now being asked for autographs.

“I have been in many rock bands over the years and I thought it was time for me to do something a bit special, a bit different rather than just another  rock band.”

Mr van Zyl said he first got serious about copying the great Jagger about two  years ago, committing to studying books, DVDs and CDs to perfect his mannerisms.

“I did it a couple of times a few years ago but nothing seriously,” he said.

“But I’m lucky - I tend to move around like Jagger quite naturally - it’s
not something that is totally weird for me.”

Mr van Zyl said he has spent the last two years searching for the right band members and was now satisfied with fellow members Geoff Taylor (Bill Wyman), Wayne Harvey (Ronnie Wood), John Condon (Keith Richards) Josh Griffin (Charlie Watts) and Paul Middlebrook ((Chuck Leavell)

The group has played five shows now and have their biggest gig so far coming up at Seagulls next weekend.

For Mr van Zyl, a life long Stones fan, the gig will mark the culmination of several years hard work.  You see, while he may look, act and sound like Jagger on stage, off stage he is quietly spoken and mild mannered.

Mr van Zyl said he was still on the look out, however, for his very own Jerry Hall, with neither a tall leggy Texan nor Brazilian model girlfriend in sight.

“I haven’t come across any of those so far,” he joked.
“I have probably left it all a bit late now. I should have done all that
twenty years ago, although isn’t Jerry Hall single again?”

The band will play at Seagulls from 7.45 on Saturday, February 23.

Article from Tweed Daily News Thurs 21st March 2008 by Tania Phillips