Who is Keith Richards? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In December

Age: 80 Years, 80 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Patti Hansen (m. 1983)

father: Bert Richards

mother: Doris Dupree Richards

children: Alexandra Richards, Angela Richards, Marlon Richards, Tara Richards, Theodora Richards

Partner: Anita Pallenberg (1967–1980)

Born Country: England

School Dropouts Guitarists

Height: 5'9" (175 cm), 5'9" Males

More Facts

education: Sidcup Art College, Wentworth Primary School, Wilmington Academy

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1

What guitars does Keith Richards play?

Keith Richards is known for playing a variety of guitars, including the Fender Telecaster, Gibson Les Paul, and various other models.
2

How did Keith Richards meet Mick Jagger?

Keith Richards and Mick Jagger met in primary school in Dartford, England. They reconnected years later on a train platform in 1961, where they discovered their shared interest in blues music.
3

What is Keith Richards' connection to the Rolling Stones?

Keith Richards is one of the founding members of the Rolling Stones, along with Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Ian Stewart, and Charlie Watts. He is the band's lead guitarist and has been a key songwriter for many of their hits.
4

Has Keith Richards written an autobiography?

Yes, Keith Richards released his autobiography titled "Life" in 2010. The book details his life and career in the Rolling Stones, as well as his struggles with addiction and personal experiences.
5

What is Keith Richards' musical style influenced by?

Keith Richards' musical style is heavily influenced by blues, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues artists such as Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, and Buddy Holly. His distinctive guitar playing and songwriting have left a lasting impact on rock music.

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Childhood & Early Life

Keith Richards was born on 18 December 1943, in Dartford, Kent, England, to Bert Richards and Doris Dupree Richards.

As a young boy, he would often listen to recordings of Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington. He would then try playing their songs on his guitar.

He attended ‘Wentworth Primary School’ after which he went to ‘Dartford Technical High School for Boys’ until 1959. In high school, he was part of the school choir and sang at the Westminster Abbey for Queen Elizabeth II.

In 1959, he was expelled from ‘Dartford Technical High School’ on the grounds of ‘truancy’ after which he was sent to ‘Sidcup Art College.’ At ‘Sidcup,’ he spent most of his time playing guitar. After dropping out of college, he moved to London to become part of the amateur band ‘Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys.’

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Career

In 1962, he became part of the rock band ‘The Rolling Stones.’ The band members at the time were Brian Jones, Ian Stewart, and Mick Jagger.

On July 12, 1962, the band played their first official gig at the ‘Marquee Club,’ a music club located at Oxford Street, London.

On June 7, 1963, the band released their first single ‘Come On.’ At this point, the band was not comfortable playing live gigs. In the autumn of 1963, the band recorded their second single titled ‘I Wanna Be Your Man,’ which was written by Lennon-McCartney.

In 1965, the song ‘I Can't Get No Satisfaction’ was released. The song was written by Richards and Mick Jagger. In 1968, Richards played the bass guitar for the song ‘Sympathy for the Devil.’ It served as the opening track of the album ‘Beggars Banquet’ which released the same year.

During the ‘Rolling Stones Tour’ in 1972, he performed as the lead vocalist for the song ‘Happy’ from the album ‘Exile on Main St.’ In 1973, the band released the hit album ‘Goats Head Soup’ which featured the hit single ‘Angie.’

In 1979, he joined The New Barbarians' tour, during which he played the keyboard. In June 1980, ‘The Rolling Stones’ released the hit album ‘Emotional Rescue’ which topped the charts in both U.S. and the U.K.

Between 1989 and 1990, the band went on a year-long worldwide tour and did 115 shows in the U.S., Japan, and Europe. In 2005, a collection of the band’s rare and limited-issue recordings was released. The collection was titled ‘Rarities 1971-2003.’

In 2007, he made an appearance in the film ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End’ in which he played the role of Captain Jack Sparrow’s father. He went on to reprise his role in the movie’s sequels ‘On Stranger Tides’ (2011) and ‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’ (2017).

In 2012, he paid tribute to fellow musicians Chuck Berry and Leonard Cohen at the ‘JFK Presidential Library’ in Boston, Massachusetts. The same year, he played the guitar at the ‘Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’ ceremony.

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Major Works

His hit single ‘I Can't Get No Satisfaction’ peaked at number one on many U.S charts and is considered one of the all-time greatest rock songs ever recorded. The song is ranked second on ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine’s list of ‘The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.’

The 1980 album ‘Emotional Rescue’ was an instant hit on the music charts. The album reached the number one position in the U.K. and stayed at the top of the U.S. chart for seven weeks. In 2011, the album was re-released by ‘Universal Music Enterprises.’

The song ‘Angie’ from the album ‘Goats Head Soup’ peaked at the number one position on U.S. charts. It was also featured in the top 5 list in the U.K. The song was also a number one hit in Canada, Australia, and Europe. This song was frequently performed during the band’s concerts and tours.

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Awards & Achievements

In 1993, he was inducted into the ‘Songwriters Hall of Fame.’

In 2009, he was ranked fourth in ‘Time’ magazine's list of ‘10 best electric guitar players of all time.’

In 2009, he was the recipient of the ‘Rock Immortal Award’ at Spike TV’s ‘Scream Awards’ held at the ‘Greek Theatre,’ Los Angeles.

Along with his band members, he was inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ and ‘UK Music Hall of Fame’ in 1989 and 2004 respectively.

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Personal Life & Legacy

Starting from 1967, he has been charged on drug related crimes on five occasions. He was imprisoned for a period of three months after he was caught with amphetamine tablets.

From 1967 to 1979, he was in a relationship with actress Anita Pallenberg. They have two children, though they never got married.

On December 18, 1983, he got married to model and actress Patti Hansen, and the couple has two children.

On April 27, 2006, he suffered a head injury for which he underwent surgery in New Zealand.

On October 26, 2010, his autobiography ‘Life’ was published. It was written with the assistance of journalist James Fox.

Facts About Keith Richards

Keith Richards is known for his unique style of playing guitar with open tunings, which has influenced countless musicians and has been a key component of The Rolling Stones' signature sound.

Despite his rock star image, Keith Richards is a voracious reader with a deep love for literature and history. He has often spoken about how books have inspired his songwriting and creativity.

Keith Richards is a talented multi-instrumentalist, proficient in playing not only guitar but also bass, keyboards, and drums. His musical versatility has been a key factor in The Rolling Stones' dynamic sound.

Keith Richards has a passion for collecting rare and vintage guitars, with an impressive and eclectic collection that includes iconic instruments from various eras and styles. His love for these instruments is a testament to his dedication to music.

Keith Richards has a reputation for his dry wit and humorous personality, often sharing entertaining anecdotes and quips in interviews and public appearances. His quick sense of humor has endeared him to fans and peers alike.

Keith Richards Biography

You wanted to know

What guitars does Keith Richards play?

How did Keith Richards meet Mick Jagger?

What is Keith Richards' connection to the Rolling Stones?

Has Keith Richards written an autobiography?

What is Keith Richards' musical style influenced by?