Keith Richards and Sir Mick Jagger are like ''Siamese twins''.

The ageing rockers first met at primary school in the 1950s and set up one of the world's biggest rock bands of all-time, The Rolling Stones, when they were teenagers in 1962.

Although they have had a few ups and downs over the years and have often publicly criticised each other, Keith insists their friendship is more like a brotherly bond that can never be ''cut'' no matter what.

Keith, 71, said: ''We've stuck together, it's almost like we're Siamese twins. Nobody would do the cut. He's amazing. There's a lot of respect between Mick and I. People hear about the squabbles here and there but 95 per cent of the time we're working totally together and are very tight. You can't work with an enemy, not unless you're perverse or something.''

Meanwhile, the 'Paint it Black' guitarist has made his second solo album - which has a heavy blues and reggae influence - and he thinks his pal Mick will be right behind his LP 'Crosseyed Heart', which is out next week.

Keith told The Sun newspaper: ''I don't think he's even heard it yet, I think he's waiting. He'll probably like some of the songs and then he might just say, 'Hmmmm', you know, just to be iffy. I also think he'll pretty much say, 'Why didn't you save that one for The Stones?' And my answer to that will be, 'Sorry, you were hibernating!' ''