#RockClassics - Keith Richards and his 80 years of rock'n'roll

Hi,

didn't do a music a post in a while, but today is a perfect day for #rockclassics, by my friend @uwelang.

Today, Keith Richards, the legendary guitar player from the Rolling Stones, turns 80. He is one of the founders of the band, and it is touring the world, since he is 19.

He made it to 80, despite the life he lived and the odds that have looked to be against him.

He is known to have been an avid drug abuser, as saying consumer would play it only down. Richards admits that the quality of the drugs might have been rescuing him from the certain death, as he took only high quality drugs, if we can say this.

I'm also saying against the odds, because he is coming from a modest family, where his dad is a war veteran. Speaking of war, Richards was born in 1943, which was the middle of the second World War. In 1944, his home was destroyed, when a bomb hit his bed, luckily, he was not there.

He befriended Mick Jagger when he was 9, as they were in the same school and neighbours. Again, what the odds, that they know each other for over 70 years.

He is not Sir Keith Richards, as he refused the Commander Order of the British Empire. Well, it would have had to be the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire to be called Sit, but he refused it nevertheless, as in his view, The Rolling Stones are not political representative to it.

The love for guitar was introduced by his grandfather, Augustus Theodore („Gus“) Dupree, who was playing jazz and had a guitar on his wall. Keith mentioned that he wanted to play it, and was allowed to, when he was really serious into it. His grandfather started with Spanish guitar music, which notes are really good defined and it is easier for learning.

A fun fact, in the first 20 years of his career, he was forced to renounce at the S in Richards, becoming Richard, as it was easier to remember for the public. He switched back to the original, Richards.

There is a joke, in case of a nuclear war, only Keith Richards and cockroaches would survive. But besides this, Happy Birthday! Thank you for the music!

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