I've read tons about Keith for 40+ years now. And seen many interviews. My opinion - he's a regular person just like the rest of us. He just happens to be in a little band called The Rolling Stones.
I honestly believe that 90% of the debauchery is "normal" rock n roll hype.
When I read between all the rock n roll bullshit he seems perfectly normal.
Love of family.
Devoted partner.
Deep passion for his craft.
Loyal friend.
Lifelong avid reader and learner.
Just like the rest of us. And sure, he's got some flaws. Just like the rest of.
I think his own autobiography makes it all perfectly clear. He's "Every Man" stuck in a Rockstar's journey. And we all love him so!

Bravo, Keith !!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025-02-19 14:48 by bv.

I don't know about that. His drug abuse for a big part of the 60s and 70s sets him apart. I do agree though that he the older he grew the more "common" he has become.
He survived the drugs. Not everyone does. Good for him.

I watched the documentary of Sly Stone last night, and his kids kind of came to the same conclusion with him lately, now that sobriety finally stuck after decades of abuse, he's just a normal old man now that likes to get together with family for a meal.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025-02-19 18:39 by kovach.

And your name is CrackBaby...nice

Quote
Stoneage
I don't know about that. His drug abuse for a big part of the 60s and 70s sets him apart. I do agree though that he the older he grew the more "common" he has become.
He survived the drugs. Not everyone does. Good for him.

Probably most of us have had alcohol and drug problems over the years. Myself for sure. We are no different than Keith. Simply human. Not set apart. Perhaps just not famous and having our addictions splashed all over the daily news. I would be mortified to read about my addictions in the press.

Quote
More Hot Rocks
And your name is CrackBaby...nice

Just a silly name. Meaningless. Except it would be the best punk band name ever!!!

Its a line from Bowie's Cracked Actor ......



ROCKMAN

A Volvo is a sensible automobile. Nothing to extraordinary there...

Quote
Stoneage
I don't know about that. His drug abuse for a big part of the 60s and 70s sets him apart. I do agree though that he the older he grew the more "common" he has become.
He survived the drugs. Not everyone does. Good for him.

as he said about himself in an interview a few years ago

"i'm really just a straight old man now"

Quote
CrackBaby
I've read tons about Keith for 40+ years now. And seen many interviews. My opinion - he's a regular person just like the rest of us. He just happens to be in a little band called The Rolling Stones.
I honestly believe that 90% of the debauchery is "normal" rock n roll hype.
When I read between all the rock n roll bullshit he seems perfectly normal.
Love of family.
Devoted partner.
Deep passion for his craft.
Loyal friend.
Lifelong avid reader and learner.
Just like the rest of us. And sure, he's got some flaws. Just like the rest of.
I think his own autobiography makes it all perfectly clear. He's "Every Man" stuck in a Rockstar's journey. And we all love him so!

Bravo, Keith !!

I'd go along with most of your observations, I've been fascinated with Keith's rock and roll lifestyle and studied him for over 40 years too.
The only thing I'd disagree with is the heroin addiction, that was for real and Keith was definitely lucky to escape that ordeal.

Being a drinker for much of my life I've noticed a few things about Keith that are for the image, watch him in interviews with his JD or Vodka, he takes a few tiny sips throughout an hour interview, it's not really drinking, it's a prop. Myself if I'm drinking I'd have finished off a few large glasses in that time.

If you watch Keith over the years all the smokes and drinks were strategically placed on the table or on the stage, it's all for the image, he lights a cigarette but smokes a tiny amount.

That's not to say there haven’t been times when Keith apears to have buried himself in drink, I'm thinking 2007 and on some of the tours between 2013 to 2021.

He admittedly gave up the coke after the intracranial hematoma, that terrible head injury might have saved his life because the coke use was fairly evident before that injury.

It's a miracle we still have him though and he's in great shape for his age since he stopped smoking and drinking, he says he still has a few drinks these days on occasion, if he does good luck to him.

Whilst undoubtedly a heavy drinker for decades, the 'cutting back', or sobriety -he's surely not teetotal though, is he? - has done him wonders. Quitting smoking was the biggie, for sure. He may well have just added a few extra years to his life. If he'd have carried on like, say, Lemmy, he'd be dead by now, probably.

.

Quote
kovach
I watched the documentary of Sky Stone last night, and his kids kind of came to the same conclusion with him lately, now that sobriety finally stuck after decades of abuse, he's just a normal old man now that likes to get together with family for a meal.

I watched it last night also, and I agree. The old Sly looked pretty darn normal and happy, with his family around.

And I was able to enjoy their astounding music again. Wow, what a great band and a a great trip down memory lane. I have to listen to Stand again.

Or maybe this 'I am 'every man', just like anybody else' is an image... For example, back in the Andrew Loog Oldham days when the Stones official public image was this terrible band of bad boys who were a threat to modern civilization as we know it, for the fan club and teen magazines they were promoted as good, normal and ordinary boys...

As long as I can remember Keith has played with his mythical image. A typical Keith Richards interview starts with an observation by the writer that ¨'Keef' really isn't that frightening person full of substances as his image is, but a warm, normal person very easy to to get along with...

What do we know - or actually care. On with the show.

- Doxa



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2025-02-19 14:56 by Doxa.

Quote
Munichhilton
A Volvo is a sensible automobile. Nothing to extraordinary there...

Yeah, farfegnugen, or something.

...........there was one interview that he was asked about the "skull" ring,after wearing it for many years. He stated that if he doesn't, then people ask "well, what is wrong with Keith", and stated that people expect him to have it on.

............another observation that I may be wrong about, I get this feeling that when he is solo as a guest (not performing), (say on Fallon) he seems to have this "uncomfortable" type look, as if he is thinking, "they probably would more expect to see Jagger".....................?????

I don't think someone who was propelled into mega-stardom whilst still in his teenage years (and remained a huge star for the rest of his life) could be described as normal.

Of course, it's impossible to really define 'normal', but I would imagine that his lived experience has been very, very far from what the 'average' or 'typical' person has lived.

Keith Richards is certainly NOT a "regular guy".

For 60+ years now, he has been performing on stage in front of crowds who love him and what he is doing on stage.

If you have ever been to a Stones show, then you must have noticed the RIFF MASTER. He is not a regular guy. During the 2nd half of any Stons show, Keith dominate the stage, next to Mick.

Also, Keith has been writing some of the great songs and riffs of our lives. Is that the works of an ordinary guy or person?

Sure he sleep at night, wear a t-shirt and may be even read books, he is breathing the air, like most of us, but that does not make him an ordinary guy.

I think the whole thing of this is a clickbait statement.

Bjornulf

Quote
bv
Keith Richards is certainly NOT a "regular guy".

For 60+ years now, he has been performing on stage in front of crowds who love him and what he is doing on stage.

If you have ever been to a Stones show, then you must have noticed the RIFF MASTER. He is not a regular guy. During the 2nd half of any Stons show, Keith dominate the stage, next to Mick.

Also, Keith has been writing some of the great songs and riffs of our lives. Is that the works of an ordinary guy or person?

Sure he sleep at night, wear a t-shirt and may be even read books, he is breathing the air, like most of us, but that does not make him an ordinary guy.

I think the whole thing of this is a clickbait statement.

with respect i agree that it's a bit of a silly topic

but i think the point is when keith's not performing onstage as a rolling stone is he still to some extent that guy from dartford that he was in the early 60's before he found fame?

in other words has he remained down to earth or has famed changed the person he is offstage and away from the music world in some substantial way?

if you meet keith in a bar and didn't know who he was and sat there and drank with and talked with him for a few hours would he come off as just an ordinary older guy or would you know that he was something greater then that?

We have nothing in common with Keith other than the air we breath.

He is not ordinary. We will never see what he has seen, done the things he's done, met the people he's has met. That is not an ordinary life which in fact translate to being nothing like us. He is a product of his own life which is not ordinary.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025-02-19 16:44 by More Hot Rocks.

You know what? I reckon, today, Keith's pretty 'ordinary' behind the scenes. A the end of the day, we're all just human.

Ordinary? Not at all.
Down-to-earth? Yes.

~"Love is Strong"~

Quote
angee
Ordinary? Not at all.
Down-to-earth? Yes.

angee sums it up well.

I would add that Keiths body language when interviewed has always been "different"; he seems to shrug his shoulders, throw back his head and have slightly jerky movements. In other words not many other people behave like he does when being interviewed. This may be related to past drugs but it is true that Keith is basically a shy person. Before Brian's death keith was not seen much in interviews. When on stage he's fine but off stage I believe he is still fundamently shy and uses his "image" as a mask to shield himself in interviews.
That is IMHO.

A very rich person may be an ordinary person in Monaco.
Keith Richards is a showbusiness professional playing a role.
Whoever he is, what his character is like?
Who knows?
An ordinary businessman he may be.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2025-02-20 09:09 by caesar.

It's a pointless discussion in many ways because most of we can know very little about what Keith is like in his everyday life.

But, from what we do see and hear these days, after decades of global superstardom and, errm, a "very interesting" life ...he does come over as a pretty well balanced and "normal" guy.

Still a bit of a "gobshite" on occasion ...but he's mellowed

He grows lemons and takes the dog for a crap.

That's a point Dandy...not sure that growing lemons in Connecticut isn't a sign of madness !...

..and if he's got time for that...he should be in the bloody studio



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025-02-20 10:08 by Spud.

Quote
DandelionPowderman
He grows lemons and takes the dog for a crap.

And enjoys old British situation comedies, like Hancock's Half Hour and the 'Carry On' films; listening to his rock He's bound to be a man, at least partly, tied to his past. 1943 was a little while ago, after all.

....and smothers it all in HP Sauce ......



ROCKMAN

Who Keith really is we will never know, if you read his biography "Life" you realise the book is completely image, it's the story of Keith, by the end of the book you don't know anything more about the man, it's a great read but it's the rock star Keith, it's Keith the ego not Keith the man.
That says a lot about Keith, he said himself in a BBC radio interview in 83' to promote Undercover that being Keith Richards felt like a regulated, schizophrenia between his image and the person he really is. He was drunk and lost his guard for a few minutes but that was how Keith saw it, diverting between two personalities, two different people.

You will probably find that underneath all the BS Keith is a very grounded solid stable calculating genius.

Quote
Rockman
....and smothers it all in HP Sauce ......

Ha-ha! Quite right!

I reckon he has a fair bit of nostalgia for his English upbringing. I'd like to think so, anyway.