Life by Keith Richards

I’ve been reading ‘Life,’ by Keith Richards – his amazing autobiography. It’s quite a treat for fans of the Rolling Stones like me, not least because he knows how to write. He writes much as he speaks and he’s a great reader – always useful for a writer -“When you are growing up there are two institutional places that affect you most powerfully: the church, which belongs to God, and the public library, which belongs to you.” Richards
Of course first and foremost he’s a great blues/rock guitarist, passionate about his music, thoughtful and  intelligent – if wild!

I will admit the story gets a bit repetitive in the middle when I felt I was in danger of becoming as lost as Richards was in a heroin fuelled haze – the endless round of busts and cold turkey and starting up again. But he comes through that, he comes through a lot and I like that he’s a man who values friendship and not a man to bear a grudge. I’m less keen on the knives and guns! (used more to scare than scar- but still!) I worried a lot about the children but this is rock and roll and this is autobigraphy, warts and all.

All I can say is I’ve absolutely loved going along for the ride! If you feel like a blast of the Rolling Stones this morning or whenever- then listen here – something about Let It Bleed that I always keep coming back to………..….