Dec 182012
Type “Keith Richards wasted” into Google and this is the first image result that appears. In honor of Keef’s 69th (heh heh…) birthday, what’s your favorite WASTED Keef moment caught on film or video?
No, seriously, in honor of the man’s birthday, can we list 69 reasons we love Keef? Not 68. Not 70. 69.
As in a Last Man Standing, please limit yourself to 1 entry per post.
1. The rich comic potential of “no hands.”
2. The rich graphic potential of fan art.
http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/046/0/8/keith_richards_by_cssp-d3bfgio.jpg
3. His dedication to public service.
http://www.picanese.com/pbpics/rC56X.jpg
4. Nice smile: http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Music/Pix/pictures/2011/11/18/1321614038270/Keith-Richards-006.jpg
5. Five-string open G tuning: http://garyrocks.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/keith-richards-and-his-5-string-guitar/
For contributing the best song on “Dirty Work”
http://youtu.be/T98I7XLoOpM
For the Chuck Berry “Don’t touch my amp!” moment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClgtoM2RwQY
His willingness to physically protect Mick from overzealous fans and then carry on with the song as if nothing happened: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7g3s44FZlY
9. For Life itself: http://www.amazon.com/Life-Keith-Richards/dp/031603441X
10. The guitar solo on Sympathy for the Devil: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MR1U08JMvE
11. For once being young and enthusiastic enough to stir himself from a dream and record the riff that would anchor the song that would most satisfy rock’s objectives, “Satisfaction.”
11. Exile on Main St.
For being second only to Dylan when it comes to messing with people who are trying to interview him by saying outlandish things, knowing that those things will be dutifully jotted down and reported.
I’m in Mexico, so I’m doing two cuz I won’t be back soon.
Because every guitar he plays, Fender, Gibson, 10,000 dollar custom, it doesn’t matter. It just sounds like Keith.
You Got the Silver.
Back to the beach!
For this LOOK.
http://www.shockya.com/news/wp-content/uploads/johnny_depp_kieth_richards_pirates_of_the_caribbean.jpg
“The heat’s raiding, the track is fading
Joint’s rocking, could be anytime at all
But the bitch keep bitching, the snitcher keeps snitching
Dropping names and telephone numbers and all”
For his humongous pink house in Weston, CT (Shhh…right near Godfrey Pond in Devil’s Den Nature Preserve).
Watched my tail lights fading, there ain’t a dry eye in the house
For playing the bass like a guitar player but still making it sound cool.
For playing all the guitars on “Monkey Man.”
For laying down the wisdom of carrying a knife:
“The big rules of knife fighting are (A) do not try it at home, and (B) the whole point is never ever use the blade. It is there to distract your opponent. While he stares at the gleaming steele, you kick his balls to kingdom come.”
For the wearing of oversized women’s sunglasses (see post photo, above) in the latter half of the ’60s.
His “harmonies” with Tom Waits on That Feel (beginning at 1:43 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbNg5_Jtd8k)
Opening riff of Not Fade Away
Hell (thinking of cdm’s “harmonies” suggestion, above), his harmonies on the ’60s Stones records are among the greatest underappreciated harmonies in rock history!
Coming up with the term X-Pensive Winos. Describes a few of my newly wine connoisseur-ish friends.
Toronto loves you Keef
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uSfjomtgdy4/TRLsmlVk2vI/AAAAAAAAHmE/HF-oEeLfJOc/s1600/keith+richards+benefit+bootleg.jpg
For being such a talented musician. Okay I know not witty. I’m in a mood for appreciating great musicianship.
And, more importantly, his harmonies on Sticky Fingers and Exile, two of the three greatest Stones lps, which Mod hates, are one of the things that elevates those records.
For the record, I don’t even come close to “hating” Exile. I just hate the crap on it, and more so I hate the love people give that crap.
I don’t even own Sticky Fingers. Even the songs I like on that album are second rate in my book.
Like I was saying.
For having Steve Jordan and Waddy Wachtel in his band and not caring that some people might judge them insufficiently cool.
Would Keith care that we can only come up with 29? No, and I love that about him.
For never publicly questioning Mick’s sexual orientation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G4jnaznUoQ
Ja-Bo!!! Welcome to the Halls of Rock, walkinggal! I believe you were our last new registrant of 2012. Don’t be a stranger. We’re big fans of the Ja-Bo video around here:
https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/rock-crimes
Thanks for the welcome, Mr. Mod! I was looking for somewhere to ask a nebby (nosey in Pittsburghese) question about Brian Wilson and came across your site. I see many here are musicians and hard-core music enthusiasts, so I will probably just lurk for the most part – lol.
P.S. Actually, I think Keef would be more lovable if he HAD publicly questioned Jagger’s sexual orientation – LOL.