Keith Richards has the reputation of being the ultimate rock’n roll pirate, known for drug abuse, outlaw escapades and a guy that the excessive life just cannot kill (late night hosts will say that after the apocalypse only cockroaches and Keith will survive).
Having read a few bio’s on him, while some of this is true especially in the early days of the Stones, I have found that Keith is a lifetime musicologist and a earnest fan of American music especially the blues.
The recent documentary of him released on Netflix, ‘Keith Richards: Under The Influence’, explores the making of his latest solo LP ‘Crosseyed Heart’ and his continued love of American roots music.
I enjoyed it very much but confess to loving his earlier 1988 solo LP ‘Talk is Cheap’ and his work with the X-Pensive Winos as well.
The doc does not rehash Richards and the early Stones, but shows where he is today.. still making great music and laying down some of the best ‘riffs’ ever in Rock and Roll. Rolling Stone magazine recently published an interview with Keith that you can read here.
