Tuesday 21 January 2020

All about Keef

Having just finished Keith Richards' massive memoir "Life", I have to conclude he's a pretty unlikable character. He may be a brilliant musician, but the way he treats other people leaves a lot to be desired. I'm amazed at the self-indulgence and self-centredness and rampant misogyny.

He takes for granted that as a global celebrity he should be waited on hand and foot, and he doesn't seem very grateful for all that hidden support.

Domestic staff like cleaners, cooks and chauffeurs are barely mentioned, except the one occasion where the cook accidentally blows up the kitchen.

Women are mainly servants and sex objects, usually referred to as bitches, chicks, brassy matrons or groupies. He shags every woman who looks willing and relies on the groupies to keep him fed, do his washing and generally look after him.

He is (or was) a hardened druggie, who takes every substance going and regularly has to go cold turkey to keep himself fit enough to do the job. Considering he was almost permanently stoned, it's amazing how much of his life he actually remembers.

He says virtually nothing about his children (Marlon, Alexandra, Angela, Theodora and Tara*), as if he had little to do with them, but maybe he just didn't want them to have too much public attention. He mentions Marlon a few times, but clearly Marlon was mostly brought up by other people (and he really objected to his father's behaviour).

He obviously doesn't care that he's a role model for thousands of young males, many of whom will copy his selfish and irresponsible attitudes. As long as he's doing his hedonistic thing, that's all that matters. It's as if he's never grown out of the hippie lifestyle of the late nineteen sixties - sex, drugs and admiring chicks.

It would be interesting to know how his friends and acquaintances and staff see him and whether they think of him as a royal pain in the arse or a lovable rogue.

*Tara died aged two months - a cot death

23 comments:

  1. I saw him in person once in Yorkville in Toronto, what a wreck of a man, he looked like a walking cadaver with about the same appeal.

    It wouldn't be a book I'd read, but I can see why you did, like watching a train-wreck unable to take your eyes off it.

    I'm frankly amazed he's still breathing and wouldn't be surprised if he'd had secret transplants of liver, etc.

    XO
    WWW

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    1. I never had you down as so judgemental and condemning. My, my.

      U

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    2. www: He's had fractured ribs, punctured lungs, a brain haemorrhage, as well as all the chemical abuse, but he's still alive and kicking. He seems to have an iron constitution.

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  2. It really doesn't surprise me. Rich people and celebrities seem to have a whole other mindset when it comes to how they treat people or how they want to be treated.

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    1. Mary: They do. Other people so often become unimportant extras in their stratospheric lives, to be fired and hired as the whim takes them.

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  3. Is he trying to stay relevant with this memoir? It's a miracle he's still alive.

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    1. Bijoux: Hard to say why he produced this memoir. Perhaps it's an attempt to put the record straight after all the distorted and invented media stories. Unfortunately he just comes across as an unrepentant yobbo.

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  4. I saw them play the Epsom Baths Hall....which dates both them and me.
    I've read the book too..picked it for a long flight...and found the most interesting part to be that about ways of playing the guitar. There he is lucid.

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    1. Fly: I imagine other musicians would be fascinated by his musical tips, like the open tuning technique he explains at great length.

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  5. Trust me, Keith Richards is one of life's good guys. Look at his face. So many laughter lines (canyons as they are). Even better: Hear him laugh. What a wonderful laugh. Of all the Stones he is my dead hot favourite. Always has been. I have listened to interviews (some not so long ago) and he, despite maybe his once upon a time drug addled brain, has wit. Which, unfortunately, Mick Jagger doesn't. Jagger is a sugary soft drink to Richards'(and Lemmy's) juice.

    Anyway, the drug charges from ages ago stuck. That's how it goes. Once you have set a foot wrong your reputation will follow you even if it doesn't resemble current reality.

    Earlier today I had an epiphany (better late in life than never, though could have done with it earlier) and nothing to do with Keith Richards or, maybe, all. Namely that we make assumptions about people. More often than not wrong ones. Came to conclusion that we'd be best advised to walk in someone's shoes before complaining about their (and our) blisters.

    U

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    1. Ursula: I suppose you could say I'm judgmental and condemning. But I'm just giving my impression of him based on the book. Maybe in the flesh he's more likable than he seems in print. As you say, we make assumptions and they can be totally wrong. Given the crazy world of rock music he had to negotiate, some might say he did it better than many others.

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  6. Sorry, never heard of him. How clueless is that?!!!

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    1. Jean: He's been the rhythm guitarist with the Rolling Stones for almost 60 years.

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  7. Keith Richard's genius at his art stun me. His willingness to pass along his learning and his experience is magnificent. And, he's as old as I am, and still gets on stage and works harder than I ever did. Kudos to the man.

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    1. Joanne: Oh I agree, he's a musical genius. Though I think the early songs like Satisfaction and Honky Tonk Women are still the really original ones. The later songs seem very mediocre to me. But yes, he still works his socks off at the age of 76, which is amazing.

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  8. I really should read biographies! Maybe it'll be a new resolve.
    Sx

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    1. Ms Scarlet: I don't read many biographies, but this one had such rave reviews I thought I should give it a go. Also, it was only 50p in the local charity bookshop.

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  9. Brilliant post Nick. I've always been a fan of the Stones music, but not really into them.

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    1. Polly: They've produced some great music, but their personal lives are dubious to say the least.

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  10. Well, I appreciate the review - it's one I won't be reading! Someone can be a great artist and a pretty abysmal person. Misogyny is a deal-breaker for me.

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    1. Agent: There's no excuse for misogyny. It's just arrogant disrespect for half the human race, pure and simple.

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  11. I am betting that his staff would like to do other things for him. He will get his payback.

    Over here from Mary Kirkland. I'll be back.

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    1. Susan: I'm sure they performed all sorts of extra-mural services, although he flatly denies doing anything non-platonic.

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