Keith Richards: Life (book review)

5/5 STARS!

This book speaks about the true musical story. From the moment Keith began strumming his guitar at a young age, his destiny was secured. Life is not a story of drugs, sex and rock ‘n’ roll, although all of that does find its way in throughout the pages.

Keith knew that drugs and sex could not be a muse to a great song in the music business. There was no one person who could stay with him when he began writing songs for a new album. Drugs did admittedly play a role in his ability to stay up for days pursuing the prime sound mixed with insightful lyrics.

Keith knew the sound he desired from his continual informal training of the musical ear. As The Rolling Stones began the formation of what would be one of the greatest rock ‘n ‘roll bands, Richards was the consummate driver who knew clearly the sound that they were striving toward. As the pieces of the puzzle began to form, the time they spent together grinding out all the music would be their foundation.

This book is based on the music. He talks about what we all should understand; America was ill-informed as to the influence its past would play in the British invasion. The most important lesson America needs to take away from all that is in the years leading up to The Rolling Stones formation we had the music in our hands. There were so many American musicians laying down amazing tracks of music that we just tossed aside.

Richards was paid less for this staggering collection, mostly, because we disregarded it as unimportant. Keith, Mick, Brian, Charlie and Bill saw beyond what was top forty material and pumped life back into the music of our past. He had an ear for what was needed to make a change in the direction music was heading. Keith felt the guitar’s marvelous future that was held within the past rhythm & blues that was held hostage in the vaults of the record companies.

Chess Records, which eventually would play a part in putting out the young music of The Rolling Stones, supplied Richards with an abundance of musical schooling that no one else was taking advantage of.

Keith Richards has led an extraordinary life and entered it all on the pages of this book. He came across with intelligence and surprisingly a complete memory of almost everything he lived through. When seeing him live in an interview, he come across as a typical heroin addict. But within these pages, the reader is enlightened with the knowledge that Richards was cautious and careful with the levels of drugs he put into his body.

Richards is open and his honesty comes through page after page. He is not a womanizer but a lover of women with the core of his being. He did not get into music to get the girls; he was drawn to the energy. He needed strong connections to the women who entered his life. There were women he could turn to back in the days of the groupies who understood their role. These women did not have thoughts of grandeur toward the musicians. Jimi Hendrix once said the groupies understood what the music and life on the road was all about. Today's followers are looking for love and longevity with these musicians and they often think they are more important than the music.

Anyone looking to read this book who wants the typical musician’s memoir that is all about drugs, sex & rock ‘n’ roll will be sorely disappointed. From these autobiographies, I want the musician to talk about the music, not pour out their sad story of drugs, destitution and the road to clean. Save that crap for your therapist because it should be as it was when they started down the road of musical endeavor: “all about the music.”