Keith Richards is one of the greatest and most influential guitarists in rock history. As the co-founder, rhythm guitarist, and primary songwriter of The Rolling Stones, he has helped shape rock ‘n’ roll for over six decades.
Born on December 18, 1943, in Dartford, England, Keith met Mick Jagger as a child. In 1962, they formed The Rolling Stones along with Brian Jones. Richards’ raw, open-tuned guitar style (known as “the Keith Richards 5-string tuning”) became the signature sound of the band’s biggest hits, including “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Brown Sugar,” “Start Me Up,” and countless others.
The Wild Man of Rock
Keith is almost as famous for his outrageous lifestyle as he is for his music. He has survived:
Multiple drug overdoses
A 1970s heroin addiction that lasted over a decade
Being electrocuted on stage in 1965
Falling out of a coconut tree in Fiji (2006)
Snorting his father’s ashes (one of rock’s most infamous stories)
Despite his hard-living reputation, Keith has been remarkably consistent. He has released solo albums (Talk Is Cheap, Main Offender), collaborated with legends like Chuck Berry, and even acted in films (Pirates of the Caribbean).
In 1989, The Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Keith was inducted a second time as a solo artist in 2024. Now in his 80s, he continues to tour with the Stones, write new music, and remains one of rock’s most beloved and unbreakable icons.
Often called “The Human Riff,” Keith Richards is not just a guitarist — he is the living embodiment of rock ‘n’ roll.