"Life" by Keith Richards

Just finished this book, and I'd give it a big recommendation. I like the Rolling Stones, but wouldn't call myself a hard core fan. I've always had the impression that Keith wasn't that articulate or interesting in and of himself, but this book has proven me wrong in a big way. If he had a ghostwriter, he had a good one.

The guitar-playing specifics included are likely to go right over the head of the average reader, while the guitar playing readers will be going over them in detail. I've heard a lot of bands cover Stones songs, but very few play them so they sound right, and he explains some of the reasons for that. Beautiful!

He also explains in detail how he managed to stay so functional while under the influence of several illegal substances on a regular basis, even as he says he wouldn't recommend anyone else try it. I don't enough personally about substance abuse to say how plausible what he is telling us is, but found it fascinating in a train wreck sort of way.

I'd like to have read more about the recording/creative processes involved in making the various Stones records than was included. He does explain his writing relationship with Mick Jagger well enough that I have a good idea how they wrote their songs, for the most part. There are a few insights into his relationships with the other members of the group, especially Mick Jagger, but most of it feels strangely removed, as though he barely knows them or wants to say as little as possible about them to keep band relations functional. He certainly doesn't say much about Bill Wyman (he talks almost as much about the Vox amp that Bill brought when he joined the band!), and band relations wouldn't be a factor there anymore. Ditto for Brian Jones, who doesn't get much credit for his role in the early days of the band.

There's not a lot of celebrity gossip for those who like that sort of thing. There are a few names dropped here and there, but nothing terribly new or surprising.

And ultimately, I found Keith surprisingly likable, even as he was honestly laying out some not-so-flattering truths about himself. He clearly truly understands what makes the Stones work well together and doesn't try to overstate his role in it. He attributes their success to their chemistry (correctly, in my opinion) and doesn't hold back praise for Mick's singing, playing harp, and performance skills or Charlie's steady bed of rhythm.

On the whole, very highly recommended if you like rock biography.