Keith Richards
“If you’re going to kick authority in the teeth, you might as well use two feet.” This is the mantra of Keith Richards, surely the greatest living embodiment of the enduring spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. He is a personification of the new, exciting and dangerous brand of escapism that it represented; a working class lad who went on to achieve the unachievable and bask in the glamour and hedonism of the ‘rockstar’ lifestyle.
More so than that, he did it all on his own terms, as described in his 2010 autobiography, Life. It’s an unflinching chronicle of rock ‘n’ roll in its turbulent and debauched prime charting the glamorous highs and the dirtiest lows of a life lived on the road and under the microscope: one that has seen him sell out stadiums across the world, grapple with heroin addiction and take on the excess and extravagance of the cars, the private jets and the country mansions – and thrive. As far as “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll” goes, he ticks every box.
It goes so much further than that, though. Yes, he’s a rebel, defiantly raising two fingers to the establishment. Granted, every image of him, complete with bedraggled hair, sunglasses and a cigarette dangling over his lower lip, positively oozes cool. But he’s also birthed the world some of its finest riffage. This is the man who’s responsible for classics such as Tumbling Dice, Gimme Shelter and (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, the track that booted the doors off its hinges and saw Keef and the Stones broaden the scope of rock ‘n’ roll beyond the realm of parent friendly mop top ditties. For the first time, with this chunky three note riff, rock ‘n’ roll, had serious teeth.
He’s survived 71 years in the Crossfire Hurricane, somehow stomaching a hearty brew of substance abuse, legal trouble and band in-fighting in the process to tell his tale. He’s defied the “live fast, die young” motto of rock folklore, dancing with death on more occasions than you could count. He’s even Captain Jack Sparrow’s on-screen dad for goodness sake. Can you get any more rock ‘n’ roll than that? I don’t think you can. Even in the winter of his years, Keith Richards undoubtedly remains the definitive rockstar.
Words by Thomas Johnston