I was watching some footage of Keith's set from 2019 and it's a completely different delivery, he was using a teleprompter yet still making mistakes and barely playing guitar while singing, he had this habit of looking at his guitar frets seemingly unable to know what to do next, if anything i would have said he had cognitive issues, and that would be putting it mildly, some people just put it down to old age, others said it's a result of his excessive lifestyle catching him up.

Then i went back to 2018, 2017, 2016, back even further and the same issues.

So I'm watching him play BTMMR, from LA 2, he's totally in command and singing and playing, you don't get the impression it's going to fall to pieces any moment , same with Connection, Slipping Away.
Also improved backing vocals, solos, song intros are reliable, he's leading the band, playing more rhythm throughout the songs, generally he's just playing more, very focused and it's obvious he has got over those cognitive problems and it's lifted the band because they can relax and concentrate on their own performances since they don't have to cover for him.

Does anyone have any idea how Keith is back in such a way, he even stands up straighter, moves better, and sings stronger.

It's unusual to come back after that many years, i don't put all that down to Steve Jordan, although clearly it's made a difference, but it's more than that.

Thoughts anyone.

I think that Keith has learned what not to play, a very smart move. As long as the rudiments are there he sounds like Keith. Sometimes less is more, certainly when you get older.

All good points. In general the focus of the band seems to be heightened this tour. Touring is good for their physical health and hopefully they will do more shows on future tours, especially next year.

On the 7th day God created The Rolling Stones

But how does that fit together with the Gimme Shelter intro in Los Angeles Sunday October 17, 2021? Dean Goodman described it in his review here on IORR as follows: His “Gimme Shelter” intro sounded like backstage noodling that wasn’t intended for public consumption. And that's exactly the impression I get from the youtube clip of it.

[www.youtube.com]

I have listened to the Gimme Shelter intro - it sounds fine to me.

I agree with the wider points around Keith's playing - one theory I have is that spending time with Steve before the tour to teach him the songs meant Keith had to sit down in a studio and actually play the songs again and again - before they even reached rehearsals. I think that must help a lot.

As another post mentions - I think Mick feels like he can trust the core band a little more this tour - Steve to keep the tempo and Keith to not F### up so much - so he is free to change the set up a little bit more than usual.

My only thought would be if somehow they can change the arrangement of Sympathy so Keith doesn't have the solo. Mick shouts "get down" or whatever after the 2nd chorus, the big screens pan to Keith... and then... well nothing. We have around 40 seconds where Keith occasionally plays a couple of licks but for large parts is seemingly talking to the crowd, gesturing and walking around.

Keith is obviously happy with the uncomfortable, unsettling and often discordant stuff he plays on SFTD .

Does he do it on purpose ? Goodness knows .

But if not, why not just kick in the tube screamer and play something akin to that simple but oh so effective solo from Ya Yas ?

Between Nashville 2015 and Nashville 2021, Keith made a big jump. I don't know what shortcuts Keith was taking with HTW in 2015, but it didn't sound good. In DC 2019 he played HTW way better and got even better in Nashville 2021.

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GJB
I have listened to the Gimme Shelter intro - it sounds fine to me.

I agree with the wider points around Keith's playing - one theory I have is that spending time with Steve before the tour to teach him the songs meant Keith had to sit down in a studio and actually play the songs again and again - before they even reached rehearsals. I think that must help a lot.

As another post mentions - I think Mick feels like he can trust the core band a little more this tour - Steve to keep the tempo and Keith to not F### up so much - so he is free to change the set up a little bit more than usual.

My only thought would be if somehow they can change the arrangement of Sympathy so Keith doesn't have the solo. Mick shouts "get down" or whatever after the 2nd chorus, the big screens pan to Keith... and then... well nothing. We have around 40 seconds where Keith occasionally plays a couple of licks but for large parts is seemingly talking to the crowd, gesturing and walking around.

Agreed , Steve Jordan must have whipped Keith into shape, i remember this interview in 88', Keith was doing some promotion during the Wino's tour, interviewed back stage by Jonathon King, Keith described Jordan as driving him hard in rehearsals, Keith said he wasn't used to someone telling him to pick it up, no time for drinks and smokes, get on with it sort of thing.



Admittedly it's a bit annoying that Keith treats his Sympathy solo as a meet and greet, it's strange because back in 89' 90' he did those really long extended Solos on Sympathy and they were a highlight of the tour for me.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021-10-19 17:59 by Rocktiludrop.

Steroids? Nootropics?

Viagra

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TheflyingDutchman
I think that Keith has learned what not to play, a very smart move. As long as the rudiments are there he sounds like Keith. Sometimes less is more, certainly when you get older.

I think you nailed it. He's obviously not the Keith of 1999, but he's better than the mummy version of 2012 where he could barely move during the pay per view concert.

I’ll be honest: going by what I’ve viewed on YouTube, I haven’t been impressed. Whilst the famed open-g guitar is, largely, still enjoyable, his soloing is, more often then not, bloody terrible: the tone, the sound... can’t one one the guitar-tech’s do something? He’s ‘way-up’ in the mix, yet it’s far from enjoyable. Connection was such such a joy during the 1995 shows; it’s terrible now, in my opinion.

I saw the band in 2006 in Glasgow - during Keith's baseball cap period. I thought he was losing it a bit then. I next saw the band in 2018 at Manchester and Keith seemed much better. He focused on playing the guitar, there was a lot less posing. What I've seen on YouTube this tour looks like another step up, I loved Charlie Watts and I thought I would never say this...... but they are playing better with Steve Jordan. The tempo on warhorses like 'Start me Up' and also songs like 'Beast of Burden' is just perfect and Keith looks thrilled to bits. I hope to hear them play BS soon!

I think Steve Jordan is a very important friend/musician to him.

Steve Jordan and water. Simple as that.

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Bjorn
Steve Jordan and water. Simple as that.

What does that mean?

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Bjorn
Steve Jordan and water. Simple as that.

I think you nailed it in 4 words

Let's hope he doesn't celebrate his improvement over the next inactive week.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021-10-19 18:43 by Rocktiludrop.

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dead.flowers
But how does that fit together with the Gimme Shelter intro in Los Angeles Sunday October 17, 2021? Dean Goodman described it in his review here on IORR as follows: His “Gimme Shelter” intro sounded like backstage noodling that wasn’t intended for public consumption. And that's exactly the impression I get from the youtube clip of it.

[www.youtube.com]

I thought it was understood there was a ghost guitar player behind the stage to play the intro of gs
how come

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maumau

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dead.flowers
But how does that fit together with the Gimme Shelter intro in Los Angeles Sunday October 17, 2021? Dean Goodman described it in his review here on IORR as follows: His “Gimme Shelter” intro sounded like backstage noodling that wasn’t intended for public consumption. And that's exactly the impression I get from the youtube clip of it.

[www.youtube.com]

I thought it was understood there was a ghost guitar player behind the stage to play the intro of gs
how come

Wonderful how all those hidden guitar players manage to reproduce all the right mistakes...

But there was definitely something strange and different about the GS intro on Sunday.

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Green Lady

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maumau

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dead.flowers
But how does that fit together with the Gimme Shelter intro in Los Angeles Sunday October 17, 2021? Dean Goodman described it in his review here on IORR as follows: His “Gimme Shelter” intro sounded like backstage noodling that wasn’t intended for public consumption. And that's exactly the impression I get from the youtube clip of it.

[www.youtube.com]

I thought it was understood there was a ghost guitar player behind the stage to play the intro of gs
how come

Wonderful how all those hidden guitar players manage to reproduce all the right mistakes...

But there was definitely something strange and different about the GS intro on Sunday.

Their audition is based on how they can reproduce keith's mistakes correctly



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021-10-19 21:09 by maumau.

in the clips i've looked at he seems a lot more engaged in this last run of shows - and to some extent he almost seems happy to have Mick paying some attention to him - almost as if they are friends again - i'm sure they are mindblown and heartbroken and thinking a lot about things-

Ronnie is playing lead along with him sometimes - I noticed that in Sympathy especially - Ronnie will play that distinct part of the solo from the studio version and sometimes Keith will play it too- Keith has a couple little runs he's been doing since the ABB tour that he pretty much sticks with - when he goes out to the runway during the solo he's usually smiling-waving-mugging for the crowd - but yes he has definitely stepped up his game these past weeks which is very nice to see-

Long Live My Beloved Rolling Stones

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maumau

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dead.flowers
But how does that fit together with the Gimme Shelter intro in Los Angeles Sunday October 17, 2021? Dean Goodman described it in his review here on IORR as follows: His “Gimme Shelter” intro sounded like backstage noodling that wasn’t intended for public consumption. And that's exactly the impression I get from the youtube clip of it.

[www.youtube.com]

I thought it was understood there was a ghost guitar player behind the stage to play the intro of gs
how come

I hope you’re not serious

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dead.flowers
But how does that fit together with the Gimme Shelter intro in Los Angeles Sunday October 17, 2021? Dean Goodman described it in his review here on IORR as follows: His “Gimme Shelter” intro sounded like backstage noodling that wasn’t intended for public consumption. And that's exactly the impression I get from the youtube clip of it.

[www.youtube.com]

New Orleans, 2019

Completely LOST intro

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Green Lady

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maumau

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dead.flowers
But how does that fit together with the Gimme Shelter intro in Los Angeles Sunday October 17, 2021? Dean Goodman described it in his review here on IORR as follows: His “Gimme Shelter” intro sounded like backstage noodling that wasn’t intended for public consumption. And that's exactly the impression I get from the youtube clip of it.

[www.youtube.com]

I thought it was understood there was a ghost guitar player behind the stage to play the intro of gs
how come

Wonderful how all those hidden guitar players manage to reproduce all the right mistakes...

But there was definitely something strange and different about the GS intro on Sunday.

He started playing that different intro in Pittsburg.

I also have the impression, that Keiths playing has become much more tight and focused. He is playing more straight rythm parts, straight intros and seems to be very focused. He is in fantastic shape. My guess is, that it could be the need of concentration because Steve Jordan replaced Charlie Watts.
They have to listen to him consciously and to concentrate. Obviously they trust in his playing and let him influence the playing of the whole band. All this is possibly the chance for the band and everbody in his part to let them just go and be free in performing on one side and on the other side beeing able to do this very focused on what is the very part of every member itself. They have decades of experience and are able to use their instinct on stage. Absolutly 1000% professionals. And last not least: They enjoy themselves on stage. Mick Jagger is very free and even more active and powerfull.
Its great to see all this. What a band! The greatest in the world. They just prooved it.

And I have to confess, that I didn't expect it to be be likis this. I was very sceptic about the the replacement of Charlie Watts. May be the fact, that Charlie Watts himself choose Steve Jordan is one reason for the success. And may be he decided it this way because he knew that keith trusts in Steve Jordan.
These are just my thoughts.

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micha063
I also have the impression, that Keiths playing has become much more tight and focused. He is playing more straight rythm parts, straight intros and seems to be very focused. He is in fantastic shape. My guess is, that it could be the need of concentration because Steve Jordan replaced Charlie Watts.
They have to listen to him consciously and to concentrate. Obviously they trust in his playing and let him influence the playing of the whole band. All this is possibly the chance for the band and everbody in his part to let them just go and be free in performing on one side and on the other side beeing able to do this very focused on what is the very part of every member itself. They have decades of experience and are able to use their instinct on stage. Absolutly 1000% professionals. And last not least: They enjoy themselves on stage. Mick Jagger is very free and even more active and powerfull.
Its great to see all this. What a band! The greatest in the world. They just prooved it.

You said it all there, perhaps people finally get it, STILL the greatest Rock & Roll / Rock band in the world, i hope people understand now that the greatest band in the world consists of Mick and Keith, as long as those two are functioning properly you have it, all the rest are very fortunate hired hands. All can be replaced.

well while we know he hasn't entirely quit smoking he may have quit drinking like he announced back i think before the 2019 tour which may account for his (at least to some) improvement in 2019 and might be part of his noticeable improvement this year but there seems to be something more up here i'm sure rehearsing seriously for once with steve helped but come on guitarists in there late 70's aren't exactly known for taking there playing to the next level makes me wonder if his drinking between 2012 and 2018 might have been a lot worst then we think and by quiting or seriously cutting backing he's tremendously improved his health or perhaps he had a serious health issue a couple years back and that gave him the kick in the butt he needed to take up a more healthy lifestyle or maybe it's all of the above plus patti and his kids pressuring him to take better care of himself
then again in a similar recent thread some people where talking about seeing him in st louis or maybe charlotte putting something on his arm and snorting it off and everyone was joking about it being cocaine i didn't take it seriously at the time but i mean look at him look at all the energy and focus he now sudenly has i hope i'm wrong as much as i like the new keith i'd rather he live another 10 years then play well for another 2 can't imagine a 80 year old with a coke habit is a healthy one
whatever his secret hope he shares it with a fellow guitarist who needs it like stephen stills

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Cooltoplady

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maumau

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dead.flowers
But how does that fit together with the Gimme Shelter intro in Los Angeles Sunday October 17, 2021? Dean Goodman described it in his review here on IORR as follows: His “Gimme Shelter” intro sounded like backstage noodling that wasn’t intended for public consumption. And that's exactly the impression I get from the youtube clip of it.

[www.youtube.com]

I thought it was understood there was a ghost guitar player behind the stage to play the intro of gs
how come

I hope you’re not serious

I hope so too!

ProfessorWolf.

I agree he might have been drinking in recent tours, its unbelievable he has got this far in this great shape if that is true, remember Ronnie saying Keith wasn't nice in drink anymore, hinting he went from nice to nasty in shorter time spans.

I disagree he's using coke, probably something like Aderall, something legal, Ronnie has likely been using something similar in recent tours, either that or bloody strong coffee