Keith Richards
Date of birth
18th December, 1943
Occupation
Musician
Sex
Male
Height
1.74
Keith Richards (born 18.12.1943) is an English musician best known for being the guitarist of The Rolling Stones.
Childhood: Keith Richards was born in Dartford, Kent. His parents were Bertrand Richards, a factory worker, and Doris Dupree Richards. When they divorced, Keith remained close to his mother but stopped speaking to his father for a long time. His interest in music began when he was a child and his mother bought him a guitar. He listened to records by Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Scotty Moore. He attended Wentworth Primary School with his friend and neighbour Mick Jagger. He then attended Dartford Technical High School for Boys where he was expelled for truancy and transferred to Sidcup Art College. He did, however, sing in choir at Dartford and even sang in front of the Queen. He reunited with Mick Jagger over mutual musical interests and joined his band Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys alongside Dick Taylor. It was during this time he met Rolling Stones co-founder Ian Stewart as well as Brian Jones. He soon moved in with his bandmates and dropped out of college.
Career: Keith Richards co-founded The Rolling Stones and signed to Decca Records in 1963. He is considered to be the band leader of the Rolling Stones by both Ian Stewart and bassist Bill Wyman. His guitar inspiration mostly comes from the likes of Chuck Berry, Jimmy Reed and Muddy Waters and he prefers to play alongside another guitarist. He co-wrote much of the music with Jagger with his first international number one being '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' in 1965. The riff allegedly came to him in his sleep, after which he woke up and recorded a demo. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1993. He has been producing and co-producing records since the 1970s for artists such as Aretha Franklin, Johnnie Johnson and Ronnie Spector. He owns a record label called Mindless Records. His solo projects include 1978 cover single of Chuck Berry's 'Run Rudolph Run' and Jimmy Cliff's 'The Harder They Come'. He also formed a band called the X-pensive Winos alongside Steve Jordan, Waddy Wachtel, Bobby Keys, Ivan Neville and Charley Drayton. The first record, 'Talk Is Cheap', was certified gold. He did recordings with other artists as part of manager Andrew Oldham's Immediate Records label. He has also recorded with John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Mitch Mitchell, Ivry Gitlis and Yoko Ono for 1968's Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus TV special. He has also worked on side projects with bandmate Ronnie Wood including on his first two solo albums. In 1979, he toured with Wood's band the New Barbarians promoting Wood's album 'Gimme Some Neck'. In 1974, he made an appearance at a Faces show. 1981 saw him feature on reggae star Max Romeo's album 'Holding Out My Love to You'. He has also worked with Tom Waits several times including on his album 'Rain Dogs' in 1985. Keith Richards made an appearance as Captain Jack Sparrow's father Captain Teague in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' in 2007 and 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' in 2011 opposite Johnny Depp. He published his autobiography 'Life' in 2010.
Personal Life: Keith Richards was notorious for his drug fuelled lifestyle during the Rolling Stones' heyday and has been to court on drug-related charges five times. It began in 1967 when his house was raided resulting in both him and Jagger spending the night in separate prisons; Richards at Wormwood Scrubs, though his conviction was soon dropped due to lack of evidence. In 1977 he was charged with possession of heroin while staying at a Toronto hotel. It was later changed to the lesser charge of simple possession of heroin. In 1978 he was given a suspended sentence and one year's probation for possession of heroin. He claimed in 2007 in an interview with NME that he once snorted his father's ashes. He married model Patti Hansen in 1983 and had two daughters, Theodora and Alexandra. He had three children; Marlon, Angela and Tara; in a previous relationship with Anita Pallenberg, though Tara died as an infant. He owns homes in Sussex; Weston, Connecticut; and Turks & Caicos. He enjoys reading and history and has expressed an interest in being a librarian. In 2006, he sustained a head injury after falling from a tree in Fiji and ended up having cranial surgery.
Iggy Pop And Seven Other Rockstars Who Dipped Their Toes Into Acting
By Holly Mosley in Music / Festivals on 21 April 2021
The rockstars who took to the silver screen.
With the news Iggy Pop has joined the cast of dark comedy Blue Iguana, directed by Jeremy LaLonde, we're reflecting on all the other rockstars who have embarked on acting careers, however brief.
It's certainky not Iggy's first foray into acting; in the past he's had roles in Cry-Baby, Tank Girl, The Crow: City of Angels and, most recently, The Dead Don't Die. But what other movies have featured famous rockstars?
Continue reading: Iggy Pop And Seven Other Rockstars Who Dipped Their Toes Into Acting
Keith Richards Reveals He's Giving Up Drinking
By Ed Biggs in Music / Festivals on 13 December 2018
The legendary Stones guitarist revealed he's cut back drastically on his alcohol intake as he approaches his 75th birthday.
As essentially the human embodiment of the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle for over half a century, it’s long been assumed that Keith Richards would simply live forever, capable of surviving a nuclear apocalypse along with cockroaches and Iggy Pop.
But it turns out that even icons for debauchery have to make personal health calls every now and again, as the guitarist announced this week that he has given up drinking.
In a new interview ahead of the North American leg of the Stones’ ‘No Filter’ tour, which kicks off in Miami in April next year, Richards admitted “it was time to quit” drinking and that he has drastically cut back on his intake in recent months.
Continue reading: Keith Richards Reveals He's Giving Up Drinking
Keith Richards Is Sorry For Suggesting Mick Jagger Get 'The Snip'
By Holly Mosley in Lifestyle / Showbiz on 01 March 2018
He confesses he regrets making the thoughtless comments in a recent interview.
Banter between good friends is normal and harmless, but Keith Richards has been forced to apologise to Rolling Stones bandmate Mick Jagger when he took it a step too far by suggesting the singer get a vasectomy after becoming a father for the eighth time at 73.
It's certainly not an unpopular opinion that Mick is perhaps 'too old' to have had yet another child, but it's one that you'd expect his closest friends to keep to themselves. As outspoken as ever though, 74-year-old Keith wasn't about to keep his silence.
Continue reading: Keith Richards Is Sorry For Suggesting Mick Jagger Get 'The Snip'
The Rolling Stones Plan UK Dates
By Bang Showbiz in Music / Festivals on 07 November 2017
The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger has revealed the group are planning UK gigs for next year.
The Rolling Stones are planning UK gigs for next year.
British fans of the rock group - which includes Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts - were devastated to find out that the band had missed out the UK on their last tour, the No Filter European Tour, earlier this year but Mick has now revealed the group are ''getting plans in place'' to perform in the UK in 2018.
Mick told The Sun newspaper: ''We were disappointed not to perform in the UK on our recent jaunt and we're looking forward to getting plans in place to do so next year.''
Continue reading: The Rolling Stones Plan UK Dates
Anita Pallenberg, '60s Model And The Rolling Stones' 'Muse', Dies Aged 73
By Ed Biggs in Lifestyle / Showbiz on 14 June 2017
Pallenberg, who was often described at The Rolling Stones' 'muse', passed away on Tuesday at the age of 73.
Anita Pallenberg, the model, actress and the woman frequently credited as being The Rolling Stones’ ‘muse’, has passed away at the age of 73, it has been confirmed.
The German-Italian style icon and ‘It Girl’ of the 1960s and 1970s was also the long-term girlfriend of the Stones’ guitarist Keith Richards, with whom she had three children. She starred alongside the band’s singer Mick Jagger in the hallucinogenic film Performance in 1970, and alongside Jane Fonda in Barbarella in 1968.
Continue reading: Anita Pallenberg, '60s Model And The Rolling Stones' 'Muse', Dies Aged 73
Mick Jagger seen alone and with Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood,Tommy Hilfiger and Charlie Watts at The Rolling Stones Exhibitionism opening night held at Industria Superstudio, New York City, United States - Tuesday 15th November 2016
Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones performing on the first day of the second weekend of Desert Trip Festival - Indio, CA - Los Angeles, California, United States - Friday 14th October 2016
Keith Richards and the other members of The Rolling Stones seen performing at Desert Trip festival at Coachella Valley - Los Angeles, California, United States - Friday 7th October 2016
Rolling Stones Totally Stripped Trailer
In 1995 The Rolling Stones released an album called Stripped. It featured a number of (predominantly acoustic) covers of their own material and some of their favourite songs to play to support the release of the album they played 3 intimate gigs. Now the band has released footage of the studio recording process along with a number of interview snippets and numerous on stage performances from three of their European dates in 1995: The Paradiso in Amsterdam, L'Olympia in Paris and Brixton Academy in London in July.
CD Track Listing:
Not Fade Away - Amsterdam / Honky Tonk Women - Paris / Dead Flowers - Amsterdam / Faraway Eyes- London / Shine A Light - Amsterdam / I Go Wild - Paris / Miss You - London / Like A Rolling Stone - Amsterdam / Brown Sugar - Paris / Midnight Rambler - London / Jumpin' Jack Flash - Paris / Gimme Shelter - Amsterdam / Rip This Joint - Amsterdam / Street Fighting Man - Amsterdam
DVD1 - 'Totally Stripped' Documentary
Continue: Rolling Stones Totally Stripped Trailer
15 Best Musician Cameos In Film History
By Holly Williams in Movies / TV / Theatre on 03 November 2015
Because we love to see a singer out of their usual habitat.
After releasing his Bleachers documentary 'Thank You And Sorry' with a comedy spin, it was only a matter of time before we saw Jack Antonoff making a movie cameo. Now he's appearing in forthcoming comedy drama 'Hello, My Name Is Doris' as the lead singer of a band called Baby Goya.
It's always fun to see a musician starring in a movie - especially when it's a comedy - whether they play themselves, a fictitious musician or even a completely different character altogether. We compiled a list of some of the best musician movie cameos in history.
Continue reading: 15 Best Musician Cameos In Film History
Keith Richards Thinks Drugs 'Never Did Anything' For His Creativity
By Stephanie Chase in Music / Festivals on 25 October 2015
The rocker has also discussed the death of his infant son Tara in 1976.
Rolling Stones wildman Keith Richards has said he never felt drugs did anything for his creativity. Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s 'Desert Island Discs', the 71 year old discussed his lengthly career, as well as the death of his infant son in 1976 and his decision to play a show just two hours after hearing the news.
Speaking about his drug use Richards told Young, "I have never felt it did anything for my creativity. It kept me up a lot at nights looking for the stuff. It was something that I had to stop because I realised there are experiments that go on too long.”
Continue reading: Keith Richards Thinks Drugs 'Never Did Anything' For His Creativity
Peter Capaldi Wants David Bowie And Keith Richards To Guest Star In 'Doctor Who'
By Ed Biggs in Movies / TV / Theatre on 11 September 2015
At a test screening for series nine, the current Doctor expressed his desire to get Bowie and Richards to put in guest appearances on the show.
Peter Capaldi has revealed that he would like David Bowie and Keith Richards to make guest appearances on ‘Doctor Who’ one day.
Capaldi, who currently plays the timelord, made the comments during a special test screening in front of a select audience in Cardiff. They were shown the first two episodes of the forthcoming ninth series, which starts on Saturday September 19th.
With a host of high-profile names making cameo appearances in the recent past, he was asked who he’d like to see getting involved with the series. “David Bowie, he would be a very good one," he told the audience. He added he would also like to see Rolling Stones guitarist Richards “stumbling around the Tardis, knocking out a few chords.”
Continue reading: Peter Capaldi Wants David Bowie And Keith Richards To Guest Star In 'Doctor Who'
Keith Richards , Patti Hansen - GQ Men of the Year Awards 2015 at the Royal Opera House - Arrivals - London, United Kingdom - Tuesday 8th September 2015
Keith Richards Hoping To Start On A New Rolling Stones Album "Next Year"
By Ed Biggs in Music / Festivals on 02 September 2015
Richards is eager to begin work on follow-up to 2005's 'A Bigger Bang', but doesn't reckon that will happen until April 2016 at the earliest.
He’s readying himself for his first solo album in nearly a quarter of a century later this month, but Keith Richards has spoken about some news that we genuinely do want to hear about – the possibility of a new Rolling Stones album.
The 71 year old guitarist spoke a little bit about the prospect of another Stones album, which would be the first in over a decade since 2005’s A Bigger Bang, to Entertainment Weekly. The group finished their Zip Code Tour of North America back in July, and Richards is eager to get cracking as soon as possible. However, he doesn’t hold out much hope of getting anything done until 2016.
Continue reading: Keith Richards Hoping To Start On A New Rolling Stones Album "Next Year"
The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood - The Rolling Stones attend a photocall at the Adelaide Oval in Australia - Adelaide, Australia - Thursday 23rd October 2014