Hulton Archive, Getty Images
Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards turns 68 years old today (Dec. 18) and according to Dr. Demko's celebrity life expectancy chart, that's 16 years longer than predicted. The birthday boy, who's often referred to as “Keef,” has smashed Demko's theory to bits and we the listener have faired all the better for it. So, 68 years later what makes Richards a legend most? Lets walk the ol' plank and find out.
MCA Records
The Impressionable Richards
Everyone from his maternal grandfather to American Western film star Roy Rogers influenced Richards. Versed in country and blues long before he began to play, he seemed to have a natural-born instinct. Chuck Berry, who played traditional but distinctive rhythm guitar, was one of his biggest influences and by 1959 Richards could play most of Berry's solos. He also looked up to Ry Cooder, Jimmy Reed, Buddy Guy and Muddy Waters, to name a few.
Hulton Archive, Getty Images
The Rolling Stone
The Rolling Stones signed to Decca in 1963 and since then have dealt us a dirty hand of gritty, blues-based rock 'n' roll. Richards is the perfect foil for vocalist Mick Jagger and admits that playing in a band with other guitarists is the forum he favors the most. The band have sold more than 200 million records worldwide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. Known as the bad boys of rock 'n' roll, their wild behavior helped build their legendary reputation.
Virgin Records
The Solo Artist
He has released two official solo albums and a live release, with the debut, 1998's 'Talk Is Cheap,' full of funky rhythms and boozy ballads. Forming a band with some cats he called the X-pensive Winos seemed to liberate him. Though still a Stone, he no longer had to champion the big arena — now Richards and the Winos could just be the best bar band you've ever heard. In fact, the live recording 'Live at the Hollywood Palladium' may trump the other two as he tends to get his best groove on while performing.
Hulton Archive, Getty Images
The Collaborator
An only child, Richards seems to have no problem playing with others and his list of musical collaborations is seemingly endless. He's done session work with Tom Waits, Billy Preston, Ronnie Spector and the late Hubert Sumlin, to name a few. He even contributed hand claps and background vocals on the Beatles 'All You Need Is Love' recording that was broadcast on the first live global television link. He's also credited as the co-writer (with Jagger and Richard Ashcroft) of 'Bittersweet Symphony' by the Verve. Richards is a firm believer that songs written by two people are better than those written by one.
Arista Records
The Producer
Richards has been producing since the 1960's and he and Jagger often are tagged as the Glimmer Twins on many of the Rolling Stones records. Artists such as Johnnie Johnson and Aretha Franklin have also employed Richards to produce their records, the latter recording her version of 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' in 1986. He's also taken on the producer role when it comes to all his solo recordings.
Hulton Archive, Getty Images
The Guitarist
On occassion Richards has played bass, keyboards and even percussion, but he'll always be known as the king of cool guitarists. Favoring Gibsons and Fenders, he's rated number ten (out of 100 guitarists) on Rolling Stone's recent pick list. His guitar work has given us some of the best riffage and upper-cut power chords ever laid down in rock 'n' roll. Largely known as an electric player, he's also a major fan of the acoustic guitar and has played acoustic on many studio tracks. Typically, he'll take 60 guitars out on tour and according to a 2009 Sunday Times article, he owns approximately 1,000 of them.
Gareth Davies, Getty Images
The Vocalist
Every bad boy band should have one vocalist with a sand-paper voice and Keef has that sound aced. He usually gets to sing a lead or co-lead song on most of Rolling Stones records and sings back-up vocals on every one of them. He's given us some great vocal leads — including 'You Got the Silver' and 'Coming Down Again' — but without doubt 'Happy' from 'Exile On Main St.' is Richards' signature vocal track.
Hulton Archive, Getty Images
The Substance Abuser
Tried five times on drug related charges, music journalist Nick Kent has called Richards “mad, bad and dangerous to know,” and when it comes to his years of drug abuse, this statement couldn't be more true. In 2007, NME asked Richards about the strangest thing he's ever snorted and he replied: “My father. I snorted my father. He was cremated and I couldn't resist grinding him up with a little bit of blow.” He later called the story a misunderstanding.
Walt Disney Pictures
The Actor
Richards involvement with moving pictures most notably stems back to the 1968 Rolling Stones (and friends) classic 'Rock 'n' Roll Circus'. Later, in 1987, he found himself taking part in the documentary (two concerts) that celebrated Chuck Berry's 60th birthday called 'Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll.' Most recently, he's taken on the cameo role of Captain Teague, the father of Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in two of Walt Disney's 'Pirates of the Caribbean' films.
Dave Hogan, Getty Images
The Author
So with a career such as this, 2010 was the year that Richards told his story in an autobiography titled 'Life' which sold over a million copies in less than a year. This honest, tell-all memoir, reveals the highs and lows of his rock 'n' roll career and those he shared it with. One memorable quote from the book: “The first time I went to heaven was when I awoke with Ronnie (later Spector!) Bennett asleep with a smile on her face. We were kids. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
