Mike Huckabee Loves The Rolling Stones

Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is a huge music fan. Sure, Bill Clinton played the saxophone and expressed a love for Fleetwood Mac and Reagan amusingly rocked out to the anti-war track “Born In The USA”, but Mike Huckabee really loves music. His classic rock cover band, Capitol Offense, has previously opened for REO Speedwagon, .38 Special, and frequently jams during inaugural balls. He even busted out his trademark Fender bass during a campaign rally in Iowa, convincing two local musicians to join him in playing some Chuck Berry. So, it’s no surprise a musical question came up during a recent political stop in Michigan.

According to CBS News, the interested voter asked if he preferred The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. “The Beatles were the greatest innovators because they really started it all, Huckabee replied. After a slight pause, he finished, “But the Rolling Stones have had the lasting power because even after all these years - Keith Richards has probably been dead for several years and doesn’t know it - they continue to make the greatest music and put on the most amazing shows.”

The former Arkansas Governor’s high praise for Keith Richards isn’t really a surprise. During his tenure as the state’s leader, he gave the Stones’ guitarist a full pardon from a reckless driving offense that had occurred years before. Some might call that a gross violation of executive power, but as a music editor, I think it’s badass.

Before leaving Michigan, Huckabee stopped by the Motown Museum and told reporters of his love for both Tower Of Power and the Funk Brothers. Rock on, Governor. Rock on.