Keith Richards: Mick Jagger 'Slowly Enraged Me'

LONDON — Keith Richards says the Rolling Stones almost imploded because Mick Jagger thought he was "bigger than the Stones."

The pair's stormy relationship is described in Richards' memoir "Life," published next week.

Richards told the BBC on Sunday that during the 1980s, Jagger took control of the band and would not relinquish it. He said Jagger's behavior "started at first to annoy me and then slowly enraged me."

But he said the pair are still friends, half a century after they bonded over a love of American blues music. He said that "nobody has the perfect marriage" but they had healed the wounds of the past.

The 66-year-old guitarist also said heroin and other drugs had helped him cope with fame. He said that "fame is probably a bigger killer than drugs in my game."

Comments

[jefersun]

05:31 PM on 10/27/2010

I read that the Stones' drummer, easy going Charlie Watts, punched Mick in the face and knocked him down during those years. Mick must have been a truely bad boy back then.

[CPAwADD]

12:31 PM on 10/27/2010

Proving that God has a sense of irony, Keith will out live all the other Rolling Stones.

[RevBookburn]

09:40 PM on 10/26/2010

Somebody had to keep things organized during the party-till-you-drop years.

[audadvnc]

05:08 PM on 10/26/2010

Of course this is Keef's version of the story. Mick has a different perspective on those days; he compared his relationship with Keith in the 80's to working with a zombie in his most terrifying, undead phase. "Nobody knew what Keith wanted, but he didn't want to work with me."

Go watch "Being Mick" to get a better understanding of what makes Jagger tick...
http://www.culturecourt.com/M/LR/BeingMick.htm

[booboo111]

09:41 PM on 10/26/2010

Well, I think I'd know!

[Angel Whitebird]

05:07 PM on 10/26/2010

When I read this..brings to mind the songs.."Under my thumb" and Mothers little helper!"

[auramac]

01:55 PM on 10/26/2010

Old news, old wounds. Why open them again?

[SeekWisdom]

12:47 AM on 10/27/2010

To bolster book sales, of course

[doralice]

01:52 PM on 10/26/2010

I would totally snort Keith's ashes.

[cheapNdumb]

12:39 PM on 10/26/2010

Mick Jagger ruined the stones for me.

[peachykeen]

07:55 AM on 10/28/2010

If there had been no Mick Jagger, there would have been no Stones. In the beginning, nobody else could have launched that band.

[Dolmance]

09:31 AM on 10/26/2010

You lock yourself in a room with someone for 50 years and see if you don't have ambivalent feelings about them. It's like an old married couple. Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.

Many blues artists have stayed fresh well into extreme old age, and ultimately that's what these guys are. It's like Muddy Waters' band continuously evolving. I look forward to another 20 or 30 years of hearing these guys.

When a Rolling Stones member ultimately does drop over, I'm really going to be aware of my own mortality.

[audadvnc]

05:00 PM on 10/26/2010

That happened in 1969, I believe...

[Adrian Zupp]

09:10 AM on 10/26/2010

I've been a Stones fan for nearly 40 years and covered their last world tour kickoff for Billboard. I don't think they've been the same band since about the time of "Exile On Main Street" but they are definitely legends. I may read Keith's book but one would hope it's more of an insider's history than a soap opera. The former would provide drama enough.

Rock on,
Adrian Zupp
http://adrianzupp.blogspot.com/

[CPAwADD]

12:32 PM on 10/27/2010

I thought Some Girls was their last great album.

[qthedancer]

07:34 AM on 10/26/2010

I sometimes think their greatest achievement is managing to still be alive.

[lightist]

07:45 PM on 10/25/2010

"He said that "fame is probably a bigger killer than drugs in my game."

If one ain't been there then one don't know it.

Bowie/"Fame"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_aDSyi5vBI

[thoughtmc00]

05:57 PM on 10/25/2010

I can't comment as I don't know the 2 blokes. Only their music. What if Keith was the primadonna the whole time? None of us know the ins and outs of their relationship- except for maybe a couple of people from their inner circle, and even then, I don't know if I'd trust the info.

[Lady Doodlebug]

05:22 PM on 10/25/2010

My God he looks terrible. I'd be curious to see a photo of his parents at that age to see how well they aged; how much of his wrinkling is hereditary. Can drugs really make you look that bad? Man oh man.

[cheapNdumb]

12:41 PM on 10/26/2010

Yes they can. You can look like Mr. Richards in a very short time....like at the age of 21.

[audadvnc]

05:09 PM on 10/26/2010

Or you can look like a Republican, a pig eating hotel chicken dinners for decades on end. I'd rather go with Keef than Rush...

[bob Z]

04:44 PM on 10/25/2010

Keith is the real deal. Mick is fluff and stuff.

[audadvnc]

05:15 PM on 10/26/2010

Spoken like someone who doesn't know what he's talking about...