Keith Richards On Groupies, Mick Jagger And Curing Himself Of Hep C

GQ has a lengthy Q&A with Keith Richards. Richards talks about groupies, boozing, drugs, and more. The interviewer went to Richards' SoHo office for the chat, which started more than an hour late and was preceded by Richards' assistant making him a drink:

"I need to prepare something for Mr. Richards."

She opened the freezer, cracked some ice cubes into one of those red plastic Solo cups, and filled it to the brim with Ketel One.

Richards also reveals, partway through, that he has a 5-inch knife inside the waistband of his pants, which helps keep them up as he's been losing weight.
He talks about groupies:

We're guys who've not really taken advantage of what we could have. Or what we could have done. It's always been that it's just too obvious. [laughs] I mean, the odd groupie here and there. Which we actually used to look upon as, uh, gas stations.... "Uh, we're in Cincinnati, so...we need to fill 'er up a little." And the other thing about groupies, it wasn't just boinky-boinky. They used to take care of you. They used to rub Vicks on your chest if you had a cold. Sometimes you'd never do anything. Sometimes they were just...nasty. [laughs] Get my drift? [laughs]...I don't miss them.

He talked about his and Mick Jagger's common love interests:

Didn't Mick screw around with Anita?
Possibly yes. Probably during the making of that movie [Performance]... Anita and I, it was never like we were ever married. And, uh, you don't try and ride a bitch like that, baby, without thinking that they're not gonna--you know. Had it. Been there. It's a load of crap, you know? I mean, I've done Mick's chicks, too.

How many chicks do you think you guys have in common?
After Marianne [Faithfull], it's a stable. [laughs]

More than five?
No. I don't want to mention other bitches' names, because I've stolen quite a few off of him and, uh, he's nudged his way into my lot, but not significantly. After the Anita thing, I made a point of stealing every bitch he had. [laughs]

He even cured himself of Hepatitis C:

You should sell your body on eBay.
Yeah, I think so. Apparently, I do have an incredible immune system. I had hepatitis C and cured it by myself.

How?
Just by being me.

He also shuns eating cheese, using Botox, and talks about the joy of grandkids. Read the whole thing.

Comments

[javaman]

through the miracle of self medication and out living the hep C, he killed it. LOL

[jaygatsby]

I suppose it’s possible that when Keith was talking about curing himself of HEPC, He has speaking of acute Hep C. It is my understanding that approximately 10% of acute cases clear. But, if he had chronic Hep C – there is no clearing that without treatment. Not one documented case.

[adamsmith]

He poisoned the Hep C with Brown Sugar.........

[jonthebru]

I read the whole interview, unusual for me. I guess I'm a Keith Richards fan. Its nice to see people actually enjoying their success with family and friends. Really.

[bar1ed]

his face skin would make a great pair of shoes ! ! !

[JayeSutter]

How does the weight of a five inch blade keep your pants up? Unless it is stuck through the waist band into a person's abdomen, I don't know.

Nothing makes a woman hot for a man like being called "bitch." I guess "Under My Thumb" isn't tongue in check, is it?

[StanTheManic]

What else CAN you say to a rock star except: SHUT UP AND PLAY!

[Nyland8]

"I snort dead people"
Keith Richards - 2002

8

[karind1]

robotfog, probably won't learn anything about hep c in this post. i have it too and i am a non responder - interferon was like poison - usually type 2 genotypes cure easily - type 1 and 1 b - which is most common do not. so i wait- i have probably had it for 30 yrs. since i have been sober for 29. you can go to a great blog - hepatitis central -and learn things. also american liver assoc. good luck.
here is praying for us. (funny i was a groupie)

[abbiehoffmansghost]

The guy stopped being relevant to music more than a generation ago. Of course the Stones as well. To mature in a young persons musical style means that you have to mature yourself and evolve. Hasn't happened with Richards or the Stones, or Aerosmith, or many others.

[Economike]

I remember people saying that three decades ago. No more beatles, stones or who in 1977. Well guess who's still around and look at who's not.

[LongLiveNewOrleans]

Relevant? mature? evolve? Keith Richards and the Rolling Stones are the original rock 'n roll pirates. Pirates are like wine, they improve with age. In the early 1960's while the Civil Rights movement was raging in the USA, The Rolling Stones were covering African-American R&B, blues and rock 'n roll and with thier long hair (the likes of which most folks had never seen before except on Einstein, Castro and certain Beat poets) they created a new paradigm which has been copied by thousands of bands including pathetic Stones wannabees like Aerosmith. By the late-Sixties the Stones music and style had had an informative and liberating effect on massive numbers of youth. Here we are, nearly a half a century later and The Stones are still rolling. It sounds like 'abbiehoffmansghost' has evolved and matured into a boring old fart.

[adamsmith]

"Let It Bleed" was the best rock record ever made. Keith will be relevant for that alone long after we're all gone...

[kfdan]

Keith Richards is an icon for those who live life to the fullest and still stay on top of their game! For those suffering under the illusion that taking care of yourself means eating vitimins everyday, Keith Richards proves that is not a full proof method for living the good life. Eventually, we all die of something! He's honest if nothing else!

[im4ufur2]

Keith Richards is a brilliant guitarist. I'm talkin' real-deal genius. I wouldn't trade my cherished Herb Ellis and Chet Atkins autographed posters (personalized, and Chet's with customary C.G.P.), but I'd give a Richards more prominence. Fans understand this, but there is a certain breed of player like myself that really understand. You cannot overstate the man's contribution. There will never be another Wes Montgomery, Albert King, Jimi, BB, Metheney, etc. And so it is with Keith Richards. He is an artist of profound magnitude. He is a craftsman with singular commitment. His work ethic is without rival. Words cannot express my gratitude. Often copied, but never duplicated. Less than a god, but more than a man.

[zendem1]

Agreed.. brilliant player--using the slack G tunings, the great lead fills only when necessary. A true artiest. Doesn't get enough credit for his background vocal work either.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

Keith is kidding himself if he thinks he cured Hepatitus C. Unless he had a full on body switch, I don't think so. My best friend has it, and her docs have said there is no cure. Unless he has a liver transplant, blood transfusion, not going to happen. I feel sorry for him. But you have to realize he got this from sleeping with groupies, and doing needles, or a bad blood transfusion. Keith, get real.

[vandegrasse]

Is there no disease or infirmity of the mind or spirit this man does not have?

[tess08]

I wonder how old he is, he looks like Death, not even warmed over.

[Mass Irish 2nd Generation]

Separated at Birth: Freddy Kruger and the "mature"/"senior citizenish" Keith Richards, the heart and soul of the Stones, even though he needs regular naps and his feet are cold all the time.

[pizzmoe]

Keith, you still rock!