Keith Richards

Keith Richards is a personality that can not be overlooked when talking about music. He was born on the 18th of December 1943, is a producer, singer, songwriter and of course a founding member of The Rolling Stones. In 2003 Richards was placed at number 10 in the list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. The only ones that placed higher were Jimi Hendrix, Duane Allman, BB King, Eric Clapton, Robert Johnson, Chuck Berry, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ry Cooder and Jimmy Page.

Keith Richard's Life

Keith Richards was born in Dartford. His father was a worker in a factory and his mouther toured Britain in a jazz band called Gus Dupree and his Boys. We could say that music has been an important aspect of his life ever since he was young and his mother played a very important role as she guided him towards important artists like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday.

Richards attended Wilmington Grammar School for Boys and then went to Sidcup Art College. That is when he actually spent more time playing his guitar instead of focusing on studies. He eventually left college and moved into the same flat with Mick Jagger and Brian Jones in 1962.

Keith Richard's Guitar

Keith Richards has taken inspiration from Chuck Berry. The Rolling Stones started off as a rhythm and blues band but he and Mick Jagger also brought rock 'n' roll to the table, inspired by songs of Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry. Keith Richards developed an interesting two-guitar style with Brian Jones and this brought a lot of success to The Rolling Stones. Brian Jones was eventually replaced by Mick Taylor and this eventually brought a higher separation in the lead and rhythm guitars in The Rolling Stones. Taylor was also replaced in 1975 with Ron Wood. This change was the most satisfying for Keith Richards as he declared this was the most musically satisfying period he spent with The Rolling Stones.

Keith Richards currently owns around 1000 guitars but was usually associated with the Fender Telecaster. Lately we noticed him using an ebony Gibson ES-355 and was also seen playing Fender Stratocasters. Few people know that Richards also appears as backing vocals on all Rolling Stones album.

Keith Richards - Private Life

Keith Richards is well known as an outlaw and everybody knows about his drugs related habits. He was arrested twice and charged seriously, first with Mick Jagger and friends at his Sussex estate in 1967 and the second one in 1977. The first arrest was easy as The Times helped by turning the public against the conviction as it was deemed as persecution. Richards was arrested in drug related problems after that several times but only in 1977 things were more serious. He was then charged for possession of 22 grams of heroin and with importing narcotics. Richards was facing a minimum of 7 years imprisonment.

In the following 3 years, Keith Richards needed to polish up as he was constantly under surveillance. This is when The Rolling Stones also released their best selling album, "Some Girls", which sold in 8 million copies. In 1979 Richards was clean of possible charges and also met future wife Patti Hansen. They have two daughters together, Alexandra and Theodora. He also has three children with Anita Pallenberg. Richards constantly jokes of having two wives. He never did marry Anita.

Solo Discography

Keith Richards launched three solo albums:

- Talk is Cheap - October 3 1988
- Live at the Hollywood Palladium - December 15 1988
- Main Offender - October 19 1992