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When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: Esky ()
Date: February 3, 2005 14:50

Does anyone know when & why Keith started doing his silly leg-licks and act like a clown on-stage??
I see various footage from the sixties and early seventies where he took a back seat to Jagger and played a great guitar. After Mick Taylor left it seemed he wanted more of the spotlight on stage....

Now why did he start doing this?
Was it because Ronnie joined the band and he took lessons from Ronnie?
Was it because he had to play a mean rhythm while Taylor played his melodic solos, and when he left he became more comfortable with the guitar work?

And can anyone say what year? I'm thinking 1975 he showed signs, but I reckon it wasn't until 1981 that he really tried to take centre stage.

I don't mind him occassionally doing the odd leg-kick etc.. but he now gets to a stage that he's too busy being a showman that he forgets to play the one thing us fans want to hear - HIS GUITAR !!!!

I also think this is why the Stones sound has gone downhill....Keith (and Ron) simply don't play a mean guitar...

Esky

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: R ()
Date: February 3, 2005 15:57

And can anyone say what year? I'm thinking 1975 he showed signs,"

If he did he wasn't cognizant of them (or much of anything) himself.

" but I reckon it wasn't until 1981 that he really tried to take centre stage."

He woke up from his heroin stupor and realized Mick had hijacked the band and declared himself 'senior partner.' By 1982 they weren't even speaking - or so the story goes.

Today he has enough back up musicians (obstensibly to compensate for his arthritic fingers) to fill in, he can do the goofy stuff - and revel in the crowd.

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: dcba ()
Date: February 3, 2005 16:08

imho the 88 Wino tour killed him...

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: bv ()
Date: February 3, 2005 16:16

Alanis Morissette does not move one inch during a show, neither does The Strokes. I get scared when musicians looks like being nailed to the stage floor. Like Bob Dylan walks on stage, plays for an hour or two, does not move, does not talk, just plays and leaves. Scaring. I just saw R.E.M. in Oslo this week and they made the difference. Living people on stage, great performing people who move around on stage. And playing great of course.

PS. Even Bill Wyman does a walk-about every now and then...

Bjornulf

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: Esky ()
Date: February 3, 2005 16:17

Good point R about Keith "waking up" in '81.

Just wished that he kept to declaring himself a "senior partner" to his guitar playing capablities rather than on-stage antics!

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: Esky ()
Date: February 3, 2005 16:20

...but don't forget bv - Bob Dylan still performs as well today as he did back in the 60s/70s...!!!

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: monkey man ()
Date: February 3, 2005 16:30

Think it basically coincides with him kicking junk Esky ole mate.
He started a bit in the 78 tour and gradually got worse from there.
Always said there's alot to be said for a steady heroin habit.

Btw, when are next beers?

As for Jagger 'hijacking' the band, well that might simply be a case of him being awake enough to handle Rolling Stones' affairs more than any ego trip.
Richards should count himself lucky Jagger didn't @#$%& off in the mid seventies for a solo gig.

"Miss you" would have put Jagger on the map as a solo artist and Keith would have been left to his own devices.
And as we are all too well aware, that isn't such a good thing where Keith is concerned.





kyle m

Have you ever lent somebody $20 and never seen them again? It was probably worth it.

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: Esky ()
Date: February 3, 2005 16:33

Ahhh Kyle - I'm up for a drink anytime!

But you are right - Jagger could have left Keith inject himself for years (in other words left him for dead). Don't know why Keith would be bitter towards Jagger steering the band through the troubled times of the mid-late seventies...?????

Esky

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: Anonymous User ()
Date: February 3, 2005 16:36

I enjoy Keith's antics.

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: Rorty ()
Date: February 3, 2005 16:38

About Bob Dylan - jeez it was funny when he started to do those few dance steps (mostly with his other feet) in his shows some years ago - the audience was thrilled and understood that was wittnessing a historical thing.. That was dramatical.. But the music didn't suffer from this cheap showmanship smiling smiley But even without those manouvres I find the Bob Dylan "shows" always very dramatic, and mostly due top quality musical performance (without cheep bullshitting and acting with audience). He can fill every corner of the house just by his presence and music. I don't go to a concert to hear speeches and cliches ("You are @#$%& great audience, I tell you that"; "It's great to be here hear; It's great to be anymwhere. You know me..")

But about our hero: I need to admit that the interaction of Keith with the audience, thanks to his "clowning", creates a great atmosphere sometimes.. the musical output does not mean any damn penny in those moments..

- Doxa

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: stillife ()
Date: February 3, 2005 16:49

I like the the way Keith acts on stage till the Urban Jungle Tour. I think he was great in 81. Now he an Ron are just embarassing on stage. Do they do this because they can`t play like they used to?

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: Esky ()
Date: February 3, 2005 17:01

I really think they do this because they think the crowd like them doing it !!
I reckon they feel they have to put this silly clown act on - they get a reaction from the crowd. They must feel it keeps their "image" intact - "the most elegantly wasted" image doing his clown antics....

That's the only reason I think they do it...it's definately not good for the sound of the band!

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: Georges ()
Date: February 3, 2005 17:20

Keith is not a clown!

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: Sam Spade ()
Date: February 3, 2005 17:36

Mick had to take over the Stones business affairs because he didn't want to get screwed again like Alan Klein did to them in the past.

Yes, Keith did wake up from his "junkie" days and realized Mick held the band together. Did Mick "steal" the band, NO. Where would the band be today if Mick hadn't stepped in?

As for Keith's antics, I'd say they began in '81 and escalated when he was with the X-pensive Winos. Then he carried it over to the Stones.

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: Wild Slivovitz ()
Date: February 3, 2005 17:43

I too suppose that The X-pensive Winos experience pushed Keith to do more moves on stage, but I don't think he's embarassing...I enjoy it a lot! between keith and Ron, the latter is the one who's almost turned to a clown...even though sometimes he's very funny indeed!

"got to be worked on
don't have no bark nor bite..."

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: ChrisM ()
Date: February 3, 2005 18:26

I agree with you Esky me old cock sparrow. Less posing and more guitar playing please!

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: jigsawpuzzle ()
Date: February 3, 2005 19:24

I thought the Expensive Winos kicked butt. I don't remember Keith showboating, I remember he and Waddy jamming. IMO after the first Wino tour the Stones came out and were the best I ever saw. (Steel Wheels) After seeing the 75, 78 and 81 tours , they finally nailed it. Its what this stone fan always wanted. They perfected it with Voodoo Lounge tour. Just one man's opinion. To this old fart, what the stones do now is all icing on the cake. I feel fortunate they stuck around this long. It's a good night out in the city.

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: Baboon Bro ()
Date: February 3, 2005 21:47

Reasoning with Björnulf "post-Post".....

"Alanis Morissette does not move one inch during a show, neither does The Strokes."

- Havent seen Strokes in concert; but isnt Howlin Pelle a third class imitator of ol´ Jagger (ca 1972-74) with his bum-swaying cocky strut...

"I get scared when musicians looks like being nailed to the stage floor. Like Bob Dylan walks on stage, plays for an hour or two, does not move, does not talk, just plays and leaves. Scaring. I just saw R.E.M. in Oslo this week and they made the difference. Living people on stage, great performing people who move around on stage. And playing great of course."

- More than meself must envy the R.E.M-experience.
I saw Mike Oldfield in Roskilde in 1982. Wonderful artist, genious.
But ´orrible as a performer and stage act, if you ask me.

"PS. Even Bill Wyman does a walk-about every now and then... "

- That was a kind thing of you to say on Bill, Björnulf... Everybody knows he stood stiff as a dummy holding his bass guitar in his typical 45 degree angle for spying up the chicks. O.k., every now and then. Mainly then.

"The only thing Mick & I disagree about is the band, the music and what we do."

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: Hanns Rainsch ()
Date: February 3, 2005 21:54

I really love the way of performance of the Stones, especially since 1981, when Keith really became the 2nd frontman of the band.
I understand that anybody is bothered by people who are nailed onstage (Strokes etc.), but some of them and especially Bob do it in a very very cool way that is as good as the Stones' way of performance.

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: melillo ()
Date: February 3, 2005 21:55

I agree it started in 81,just look how keith was acting during ycagwyw
in the lstnt movie, also in the same movie keith notices woody and mick
camping it up during beast and then feels he has to walk down the ramp
and do a half ass solo on his knees,can you picture keith doing that in 72
no way

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: Rockman ()
Date: February 3, 2005 23:06

Keith started dancin' after the smack wore off!....aaarrr but seriously even back in the 60's if ya watch Keith you'll see him working out lil' dance steps on his own, especially when he takes a solo that's where you'll see him really wig out.

ROCKMAN

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: tussler ()
Date: February 3, 2005 23:10

I think you got the definition of what rock n`roll supposed to be when Keith entered the stage on B2B-tour.

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: lady jane ()
Date: February 4, 2005 00:09

if the man wants to clown, let the man clown

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: Jumacfly ()
Date: February 4, 2005 00:31

Hi !

Remember Keith recognized than his perception of his playing on stage changed since the Stones use big screens on their tours!
he knows he got to carry the show by posing, that's a kind of "rock n roll"trademark for him.
it doesn t disturb me , but the fact is that his playing became basic and basic all over the years.
It always remind me the classic "keith is surely an old rock player, but a very young bluesman!"..and on a technical way, that s correct, you just got to hear his classical riffs change to become quite simple and direct..

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Date: February 4, 2005 01:33

Yet again more complaints about Keith. He is not a clown and I still enjoy his guitar playing. The people complaining are the same ones who should be greatful that Keith is still alive and well. It sure beats the alternative. Relax and enjoy what we have while we have it.
Keith is King

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: mandu ()
Date: February 4, 2005 03:30

i love the way keith is on stage,i like the way he clowns around keith is rocknroll mannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: harrybigsack ()
Date: February 4, 2005 03:34

His posing has become annoying as have his false stories. If I hear the Muddy story or any talk of weaving again I'll puke.

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: Milo Yammbag ()
Date: February 4, 2005 09:31

I blame it all on the giant video screens. The band is very much aware that evryone can now CLEARLY see them and I feel they are encouraged to mug for the camera, so to speak.

IMO, Keith was pretty natural during 81/82 tour, hanging back and playing.
In 1997, Keith was not moving around a lot, he was carrying the bulk of the
guitar work and seemed to be pacing himself.

During LICKS at times some of his movements were VERY exagerated, but I think he knows this and does it on purpose.

I dont find him acting as a "clown", I think he is having fun, goofing around with his comments and not taking himself to seriously, which is refreshing for a musician of his stature. Think of all the musicians and singers who take themselves so @#$%& seriously they cant even crack a smile bewtween their "important social viewpoint" songs. @#$%& them.

I think Keith knows that he is lucky to still be doing what he is doing and also he is probably whacked out a bit on some type of narcotic/controlled substance.......remember he is an addict, he could be smashed on Prozac for all we know. Bottom line, he knows it cant last forever, he loves to be onstage, he knows he has a great band around him and he is not afraid to make fun of himself.
How many other superstars are confident enough to show that ?

The exagerated leg kicks and stuff.....gigantic TV screen is to blame
The half assed comments "...it's great to be anywhere" is part of an old comedy bit but for Keith I think there is a certain sincerity behind it.

Just my opinion

Milo, NYC
Watch my tail lights fadin'

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: The Sicilian ()
Date: December 20, 2011 19:02

Since December was Mick bashing month maybe its only fair to revisit the Keith criticism thread. Or one of them. Even BV chimed in on this. Does anyone buy this argument in this thread?

Re: When/Why Did Keith Start Acting Like A Clown On-stage?
Posted by: ChrisM ()
Date: December 20, 2011 19:12

Wow. Nostalgia. Esky is a poster whom I haven't seen here, at least under that name, for many years. Come back Esky! All sins forgiven!

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