"His music will live with us forever!"
By Alex Rigotti 27th November 2025
Mick Jagger (L) and Keith Richards (R) (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have paid tribute to the late reggae and soul legend Jimmy Cliff.
- READ MORE: The Rolling Stones – ‘Hackney Diamonds’ review: they’ve still got it
The Rolling Stones members took to social media to react to the news of Cliff’s death, who passed away aged 81, caused by “a seizure followed by pneumonia”.
AdvertisementThe Jamaican singer, actor and multi-instrumentalist is widely credited with helping bring reggae music to the global stage, and is best recognised for his tracks including ‘You Can Get It If You Really Want’ and ‘Many Rivers To Cross’.
Now, Jagger is the latest to pay respects to the legend, sharing a photo of the pair laughing and drinking together at Cliff’s 1981 performance at New York’s Ritz Hotel. “So sad to lose the beautiful voice of Jamaica, Jimmy Cliff”, he wrote.
Meanwhile, Richards also took to social media to share his memories of Cliff, writing: “Farewell Jimmy, I was in Jamaica when ‘The Harder They Come’ was in every cinema on the island. You could feel the pride and the love for Jimmy everywhere.
“The sweetest voice, the sweetest soul. His music will live with us forever! Heartfelt condolences to his family! One love, Keith”. Take a look at both tributes down below:
So sad to lose the beautiful voice of Jamaica, Jimmy Cliff. pic.twitter.com/npUJ5KBSb2
— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) November 25, 2025
RecommendedFarewell Jimmy, I was in Jamaica when “The Harder They Come" was in every cinema on the island. You could feel the pride and and the love for Jimmy everywhere. The sweetest voice, the sweetest soul. His music will live with us forever! Heartfelt condolences to his family!One… pic.twitter.com/GOH8YwfiHw
— Keith Richards (@officialKeef) November 25, 2025
Cliff, Richards and Jagger have maintained a longstanding relationship, which started when Richards visited Jamaica frequently in the 1970s. Richards’ first solo release was a cover of Chuck Berry’s ‘Run Rudolph Run’ set to his own interpretation of Cliff’s ‘The Harder They Come’ in 1978, and Cliff would go on to provide backing vocals on The Rolling Stones’ song, ‘Too Rude’ in the 1980s.
Meanwhile, Cliff and Jagger were once reportedly neighbours in London during the time Cliff was becoming an actor in the 1970s – eventually landing his role for The Harder They Come, for which he would also write its pivotal soundtrack.
Other acting roles he took on included a role in 1986’s Club Paradise alongside Robin Williams, and appearing alongside Steven Seagal in the 1990 film Marked For Death.
AdvertisementCliff won Grammys for both ‘Cliff Hanger’ (1985) and ‘Rebirth’ (2012) albums, and was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2010.