(Though you'll hear an occasional word from the dark side of the room to the effect that they've overshot their best years, the Rolling Stones have weathered the last twelve years in admirable form. And they continue to defend their turf actively: by now the new documentary movie should be at a theatre in your neighborhood, and on the way are a new studio album (untitled as we go to press) and a Bill Wyman solo album called Monkey Grip. And you're never very far from the rumblings about roadwork. In this interview, taped in London, Mick dagger takes a backward glance at those twelve years and more. The concluding half will be presented next month. - Ed.)

What sort of kid were you?