Keith Richards keeping his head above water
By Edna Gundersen,
He has heard it all, including the post-apocalyptic prophecy that "it'll be me and the roaches left," Richards says with a hoarse laugh, shrugging off his reputation as a wrinkled survivor. "I've become a cartoonish little icon. You've got to be proud of that. If you can't take the pot shots, you shouldn't be in show business."
Richards, 67, gets the last laugh as one of few in showbiz to hold the globe rapt for five decades. The raggedly charming guitarist for the Rolling Stones has crafted indelible riffs, co-written some of rock's finest classics and influenced countless players with his primal, unpretentious style, often while on a rocky and reckless trail of drug habits, legal scrapes, toxic relationships and life-threatening mishaps. (A fall from a tree in Fiji in 2006 required cranial neurosurgery. Residual damage? "A dent, a war wound," he says.)
The unvarnished tale unfolds in his highly praised, best-selling memoir, Life (which peaked at No. 3 on USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list), freshly out in paperback (Back Bay Books, $16.99). The tone is pure Keef.
The Boston Phoenix asserts, "He writes the way he sings — naked, straight up, heart on sleeve," and The New York Times compares Richards' prose to his guitar playing: "intense, elemental, utterly distinctive and achingly, emotionally direct." The New Yorker declares Life "a slurry romp through the life of a man who knew every pleasure, denied himself nothing and never paid the price."
What led him down a path of decadence and carefree indulgence?
"Everybody out there gave me the license," says Richards, holed up in a hotel suite the day before the Pirates premiere at Disneyland. He's trim in all gray, save his bright turquoise high tops and a patterned scarf tied around a mop of shaggy gray hair. "People want to live vicariously, and they set me up. You want Keith? I'll give you Keith. It may not always be me, but people want to believe it."
Making peace with Mick
Richards' wildest days are behind him. He gave up heroin in 1978 and cocaine after his head injury. He has been happily married to model Patti Hansen since 1983. He's more workaholic than alcoholic, drinking vodka sparingly these days and hustling moonlighting guitar gigs as he maneuvers to reboot the Stones in time to mark next year's 50th anniversary.
That's a ticklish question in light of Life's tough love for Mick Jagger. Richards dwells on the singer's philandering and dictatorial tendencies, calls him "unbearable" and even impugns his manhood.
When Jagger read Life before publication, "the blue pencil was flying," Richards says. "Of course, he had a few issues. I said, 'What am I going to do, lie? After all, Mick, the book ain't about you.' He did give me a hard time throughout life. Trying to bring the man down to earth took a while and took a toll on me. I have great respect for the man. I love him dearly, quirks and all."
When Jagger and Richards, boyhood pals since the early '50s, met in New York a month ago, "Mick pouted a bit, as is his wont," Richards says. "I told him, 'It's water under the bridge. I want to talk about the future. We're larger than a little bitching here and there. It's only rock 'n' roll.' I love working with Mick. Maybe that friction that makes it work, that bit of sand in the oyster that makes the pearl."
The band is plowing through masters of 1978's Some Girls in search of buried gems for a reissue similar to last year's Exile on Main Street. Jagger has a solo album in the works, and Richards has collaborated with Tom Waits and cut tracks with Steve Jordan, key member of his solo band X-Pensive Winos.
"There's a Wino-ish thing in the air," Richards says. "We've got a track or two."
But a monster milestone is looming, and Richards concedes, "Timing is everything." The Stones played their first gig at London's Marquee Club on July 12, 1962. Richards' golden anniversary wish list: a 2012 studio album and world tour.
"Something's blowing in the wind," he says. "The idea's there. We kind of know we should do it, but nobody's put their finger on the moment yet. This is what we have to ask each other: Do we want to go out in a blaze of glory? We can, if Mick and Charlie (Watts) feel like I do, that we can still turn people on. We don't have to prove nothing anymore. I just love playing, and I miss the crowd."
Marking the band's 50th with a blowout tour "does indeed seem logical, even likely," says Ray Waddell, Billboard's senior editor of touring. "If they do, and if they bill it as their last, which they've never done, it will without a doubt be an international blockbuster and a lock to be among the top tours of all time."
U2's 360 tour just surpassed the record $558 million set by the Stones' Bigger Bang tour, and the Irish quartet is expected to gross $700 million before 360 ends in July, according to Billboard Boxscore. It also holds the record for attendance with 7 million tickets sold, pushing the Stones' Voodoo Lounge, with 6.4 million, to second place.
"If they were to pass U2 and reclaim the record gross, it would probably be driven by ticket prices as opposed to attendance, as the unprecedented capacities on 360, as well as the sheer number of shows, is what drove that band's historic numbers," Waddell says. "If the Stones go out, there is no reason they wouldn't command the highest ticket prices in history, at least on the top end. And it would be worth the price."
Can the Stones reclaim the touring crown?
"I don't know and I don't care," Richards sniffs. "So what? U2 made a few mill more, or maybe not by the time the gross is done and you look at the net. Meanwhile, (Broadway's) Spider-Man is going down the tubes. And I don't think they played to 2 million people in Brazil, which we did (in 2006, the largest rock concert ever).
"U2's a good band, so why not? I hope another band eclipses both of us. Bono's an interesting guy. I wouldn't say he's my favorite guy to hang with."
Film is ‘bizarre other world’
He finds Pirates star Johnny Depp more simpatico. Richards joined Disney's franchise at the behest of Depp and plays the father of his character, Jack Sparrow, a wry, mumbling buccaneer largely inspired by the guitarist.
"I get to shoot somebody," Richards says. "It's fun and a change, a bizarre other world. If you're used to rock 'n' roll, books and movies are fairly tame."
The swashbuckling pair became drinking buddies off set, though Richards says he's not the guzzler he was.
"Johnny loves red wine, and I'll drink anything that's available," he says. "If there ain't any around, I don't drink. If I think, 'I can handle this better with a drink,' I'll take it. Compared to the other stuff I did, a drink is gnat's piss."
As for that other stuff, Richards says his pharmaceutical consumption, while copious, was cautious. "I don't recommend it for anybody else," he says, adding with a cackle: "I'm not human, after all. It's not something to emulate. It was done out of innocence."
Not simply an occupational hazard, drugs "helped you make the gig, especially if you're working 350 days a year," he says. "You can't be vegetarian and straight and play rock 'n' roll."
You can be monogamous, Richards discovered. He had three children with Anita Pallenberg and flings with Ronnie Spector and Marianne Faithfull (partly as payback to Jagger for bedding Pallenberg) before settling down with Hansen.
"If you're married to Patti Hansen, you don't want to switch," he says. "She's the most wonderful woman in the world. I love her more every day. If anyone can keep me on the straight and narrow, she's the one."
Hansen survived bladder cancer after being diagnosed in 2007, a scare that sent her usually unflappable husband into a tailspin.
"I didn't handle it that well," he says. "I had to pretend everything's cool because someone has to not freak out, but it was a terrible jolt."
He was less taken aback when the couple's daughter Theodora, 26, was arrested in March for scrawling on a Soho convent wall and possessing marijuana.
"That was a wake-up call for her," her father says. "She went to the tank for the night, didn't say, 'Do you know who my dad is?' She went to court, did her community service. I admire the way she handled it."
Richards is no stranger to the blunders of youth. Writing Life brought those lessons into sharper focus.
"I realized how stupid I could be at times," he says. "What a dummy."
Lasting bond with a guitar
The redeeming love story at Life's core is between Richards and his guitar.
The book, a notch above most rock autobiographies, "is terrific when Richards writes about the music," says Greg Kot, co-author of The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones: Sound Opinions on the Great Rock 'n' Roll Rivalry.
"That band, that sound was his mission, though it was eventually derailed by heroin. The human relations, they all fell by the wayside, whether it was with Mick Jagger, friends, associates, wives, children. He treats all of them far more blithely than he does the music, which remains sacred."
Life is on the shelf, but Richards' life isn't. Overwhelmed by reaction to the book, he may consider a sequel.
"Not a lot of cats get to be No. 1 on their first bash at it," he says. "I might fill in the gaps later. It's not the Bible, but I didn't realize what a task it would be. You try being Keith Richards twice in one lifetime."

[www.usatoday.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-05-21 14:57 by proudmary.

Yes, by all means, go out in a blaze of glory!

Nice...especially how he says 'it's all water under the bridge'. He wasn't the one made a laughingstock, and Mick has never retaliated.

great piece.

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winter
great piece.

I especially liked the part where he says there is something blowing in the wind! Then the part about going out in a blaze of glory!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-05-20 19:38 by stonescrow.

Love it, thanks proudmary,

My fav lines....

But a monster milestone is looming, and Richards concedes, "Timing is everything." The Stones played their first gig at London's Marquee Club on July 12, 1962.

Richards' golden anniversary wish list: a 2012 studio album and world tour.
"Something's blowing in the wind," he says. "The idea's there. We kind of know we should do it, but nobody's put their finger on the moment yet. This is what we have to ask each other: Do we want to go out in a blaze of glory? We can, if Mick and Charlie (Watts) feel like I do, that we can still turn people on. We don't have to prove nothing anymore. I just love playing, and I miss the crowd."


Not simply an occupational hazard, drugs "helped you make the gig, especially if you're working 350 days a year," he says. "You can't be vegetarian and straight and play rock 'n' roll."


He was less taken aback when the couple's daughter Theodora, 26, was arrested in March for scrawling on a Soho convent wall and possessing marijuana.
"That was a wake-up call for her," her father says. "She went to the tank for the night, didn't say, 'Do you know who my dad is?' She went to court, did her community service. I admire the way she handled it."

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Bliss
Nice...especially how he says 'it's all water under the bridge'. He wasn't the one made a laughingstock, and Mick has never retaliated.

Exactly my thoughts. Keith has double standards - all that Mick did not have term of prescription, all he did - it's water under the bridge. It's hilarious when he talks that he is only interested in the future after he delved into the dirty laundry of hundred years ago.

But in any case, it seems, Mick does not hurt too much and we'll see them in 2012

Nice read! Hoping for a nice SG box!

Thanks for posting proudmary - good read.

This line made my day:

'He's more workaholic than alcoholic'.

Great news, and for once it's from the horses mouth so to speak. It would seem likely now that the much heralded 2012/13 tour will go ahead. Once Jagger gets his solo stuff out of the way (which, as usual, will be a flop) he will want to get back on stage and the whole 50th Annversary will be too much of a pull to both his ego and his bank account.

Things might start to get lively on this board in the near future.

Very nice read. Thanks

-------------------
Keep On Rolling

Cool stuff indeed. I think Keith is pretending not to care too much about the fact that U2 have surpassed the Stones regarding the most profitable tour in history. And I don't think they played to 2 million people in Brazil, which we did (in 2006, the largest rock concert ever). This statement shows that Keef's not really comfortable with U2 being number 1 in these days and he doesn't mention that it was a free show either. Honestly, Keith must realize that if U2 wanted to play a similiar gig in Rio de Janeiro, the crowd would undoubtably be much larger than 2 million if the authorities would allow it.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-05-20 20:18 by The Stones.

I love working with Mick. ...... That's all ya need ta read....



ROCKMAN

"Something's blowing in the wind,"
"The idea's there. We kind of know we should do it, but nobody's put their finger on the moment yet"
"I just love playing, and I miss the crowd."

Same old Keith bullshit answers.Thanks for posting proudmary.

"No dope smoking no beer sold after 12 o'clock"

It 's Keith speaking. As long as Jagger doesn't say that the Rolling Stones are planning to tour in 2012, I don't believe it. I love Keith but his wishes aren't enough to convince me.
Rock and Roll,
Mops

Nice read,and encouraging news about the Some Girls and Tom Waits projects (I didnt know about the latter) but the touring talk - be it the actual existence of a tour at all let alone the scale of it - is all hot air until I read something more concrete than a vague statement of intent from Jagger himself.

Oh, and there's another candidate for the 'Stones Myths' thread. I see the estimated attendance at the Copacabana show has doubled to two million.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-05-20 15:26 by Gazza.

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Gazza

Oh, and there's another candidate for the 'Stones Myths' thread. I see the estimated attendance at the Copacabana show has doubled to two million.

Yeah and so much for Keith not caring about bigest gross or overall numbers. He always mentions that Rio show and everytime he does he adds another million people.

"It's just some friends of mine and they're busting down the door"

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sweetcharmedlife

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Gazza

Oh, and there's another candidate for the 'Stones Myths' thread. I see the estimated attendance at the Copacabana show has doubled to two million.

Yeah and so much for Keith not caring about bigest gross or overall numbers. He always mentions that Rio show and everytime he does he adds another million people.

Competitive little devils arn't they! Whatever keeps the fire burning is good news for us.

Last I had read is that a year or two ago they actually did refigure the numbers and estimate that it much closer to 2 million than the initial 1 million.

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stonesncrowes
Last I had read is that a year or two ago they actually did refigure the numbers and estimate that it much closer to 2 million than the initial 1 million.

I counted 4 million that night but then again I was seeing double that evening! Just kidding, however, to watch it on DVD I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't actually closer to two than one, million that is.

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The Stones
Cool stuff indeed. I think Keith is pretending not to care too much about the fact that U2 have surpassed the Stones regarding the most profitable tour in history. And I don't think they played to 2 million people in Brazil, which we did (in 2006, the largest rock concert ever). This statement shows that Keef's not really comfortable with U2 being number 1 in these days and he doesn't mention that it was a free show either. Honestly, Keith must realize that if U2 wanted to play a similiar gig in Rio de Janeiro, the crowd would undoubtably be much larger than 2 million if the authorities would allow it.

Just curious, has U2 ever performed in Rio? I could be way wrong here but something tells me that U2 wouldn't generate the same kind of intense passion that the Stones do in Latin America.

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stonescrow

Quote
The Stones
Cool stuff indeed. I think Keith is pretending not to care too much about the fact that U2 have surpassed the Stones regarding the most profitable tour in history. And I don't think they played to 2 million people in Brazil, which we did (in 2006, the largest rock concert ever). This statement shows that Keef's not really comfortable with U2 being number 1 in these days and he doesn't mention that it was a free show either. Honestly, Keith must realize that if U2 wanted to play a similiar gig in Rio de Janeiro, the crowd would undoubtably be much larger than 2 million if the authorities would allow it.

Just curious, has U2 ever performed in Rio? I could be way wrong here but something tells me that U2 wouldn't generate the same kind of intense passion that the Stones do in Latin America.

Well they didn't play Rio,but U2 just finished a latin america leg of thier tour.
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sweetcharmedlife

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stonescrow

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The Stones
Cool stuff indeed. I think Keith is pretending not to care too much about the fact that U2 have surpassed the Stones regarding the most profitable tour in history. And I don't think they played to 2 million people in Brazil, which we did (in 2006, the largest rock concert ever). This statement shows that Keef's not really comfortable with U2 being number 1 in these days and he doesn't mention that it was a free show either. Honestly, Keith must realize that if U2 wanted to play a similiar gig in Rio de Janeiro, the crowd would undoubtably be much larger than 2 million if the authorities would allow it.

Just curious, has U2 ever performed in Rio? I could be way wrong here but something tells me that U2 wouldn't generate the same kind of intense passion that the Stones do in Latin America.

Well they didn't play Rio,but U2 just finished a latin america leg of thier tour.
Mar
25
2011 Santiago CL Estadio Nacional (93) Muse ENDED ENDED
Mar
30
2011 Buenos Aires AR Estadio Unico de La Plata (108) Muse ENDED ENDED
Apr
2
2011 Buenos Aires AR Estadio Unico de La Plata (55) Muse ENDED ENDED
Apr
3
2011 Buenos Aires AR Estadio Unico de La Plata (54) Muse ENDED ENDED
Apr
9
2011 Sao Paulo BR Estadio Morumbi (238) Muse ENDED ENDED
Apr
10
2011 Sao Paulo BR Estadio Morumbi (167) Muse ENDED ENDED
Apr
13
2011 Sao Paulo BR Estadio Morumbi (182) Muse ENDED ENDED
May
11
2011 Mexico City MX Azteca Stadium (73) Snow Patrol ENDED ENDED
May
14
2011 Mexico City MX Azteca Stadium (106) Snow Patrol ENDED SOLD OUT
May
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2011 Mexico City MX Azteca Stadium

Thanks for posting. Maybe Gazza can shed some light on how they are received in Latin America compared to how the Stones are received? I know I was blown away at the reception they received at Buenos Aires on the Biggest Bang DVD, sort of reminded me of Beatlemania in '64 here in the States.

The band is plowing through masters of 1978's Some Girls in search of buried gems for a reissue similar to last year's Exile on Main Street. Jagger has a solo album in the works, and Richards has collaborated with Tom Waits and cut tracks with Steve Jordan, key member of his solo band X-Pensive Winos.
"There's a Wino-ish thing in the air," Richards says. "We've got a track or two."

...and so this is all the new material recorded with Steve Jordan??!!

I miss the crowd. Which means a stadium tour should be the option.

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stonescrow

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sweetcharmedlife

Quote
stonescrow

Quote
The Stones
Cool stuff indeed. I think Keith is pretending not to care too much about the fact that U2 have surpassed the Stones regarding the most profitable tour in history. And I don't think they played to 2 million people in Brazil, which we did (in 2006, the largest rock concert ever). This statement shows that Keef's not really comfortable with U2 being number 1 in these days and he doesn't mention that it was a free show either. Honestly, Keith must realize that if U2 wanted to play a similiar gig in Rio de Janeiro, the crowd would undoubtably be much larger than 2 million if the authorities would allow it.

Just curious, has U2 ever performed in Rio? I could be way wrong here but something tells me that U2 wouldn't generate the same kind of intense passion that the Stones do in Latin America.

Well they didn't play Rio,but U2 just finished a latin america leg of thier tour.
Mar
25
2011 Santiago CL Estadio Nacional (93) Muse ENDED ENDED
Mar
30
2011 Buenos Aires AR Estadio Unico de La Plata (108) Muse ENDED ENDED
Apr
2
2011 Buenos Aires AR Estadio Unico de La Plata (55) Muse ENDED ENDED
Apr
3
2011 Buenos Aires AR Estadio Unico de La Plata (54) Muse ENDED ENDED
Apr
9
2011 Sao Paulo BR Estadio Morumbi (238) Muse ENDED ENDED
Apr
10
2011 Sao Paulo BR Estadio Morumbi (167) Muse ENDED ENDED
Apr
13
2011 Sao Paulo BR Estadio Morumbi (182) Muse ENDED ENDED
May
11
2011 Mexico City MX Azteca Stadium (73) Snow Patrol ENDED ENDED
May
14
2011 Mexico City MX Azteca Stadium (106) Snow Patrol ENDED SOLD OUT
May
15
2011 Mexico City MX Azteca Stadium

Thanks for posting. Maybe Gazza can shed some light on how they are received in Latin America compared to how the Stones are received? I know I was blown away at the reception they received at Buenos Aires on the Biggest Bang DVD, sort of reminded me of Beatlemania in '64 here in the States.

U2 is as big in Latin America as the Stones are. They routinely sell out huge stadiums for multiple nights. They just fined a sold-out 3-show run in Mexico City.

of course it bothers him he could say he doesnt care all he wants, and if he didnt care then why bring up rio?

although it was a nice read it was still a wait and see thing tour wise which is what we have been doing for 2 years now

Maybe they are waiting for the U2 tour to finish and find out the final tour gross they pulled in.Then Mick and his financial people can work out how to top U2's figures.But really - why even worry about U2,the stones 50th year is their own personal milestone - the band and their fans is all that matters.