Keith.

     Ever wondered how the 70 year old wild, partying, drug addicted guitarist of the "Greatest Rock and Roll Band" lived his life? Through years of substance abuse, troubles with the law, and 52 years and counting being in the Rolling Stones, Keith Richards has somehow survived. 

     Keith Richards was born an only child in Dartford, Kent, England on December 18^th,  1943, to parents Bert and Doris. Keith Richards’ father was a former marine who was injured at Normandy. Richards’ grandparents were socialist leaders. From a young age, Keith had been bullied at school, and was a boy scout. He later sang in a children’s choir and performed for Queen Elizabeth, but was later kicked out because he grew up, and so did his voice, and he couldn't hit those high notes anymore.

     The Rolling Stones' were formed by a chance meeting of Richards' and Mick Jagger on a train to college in 1962. Growing up in the same town, Keith and Mick Jagger had known each other since childhood, but when they had a surprise meeting on a train to school in 1962, they became good friends by realizing they had the same taste in old, American blues music. Richards’ had started to learn guitar at a young age from a friend, but he really started to love it and be devoted to it when he was in Art School in Sidcup. Him and other students would ditch classes and have jam sessions in the boys’ bathrooms, until they started to get in trouble, and it was all over when Keith was expelled from school for plagiarism. Mick and Keith began to hang out more in mid-1962, and by July, they had their first gig at The Marquee club as "The Rollin' Stones." The original lineup consisted of Richards, Jagger, a local guitarist named Brian Jones, Dick Taylor and Ian Stewart. By December of that year, Taylor and Stewart were replaced by bassist Bill Wyman, and drummer Charlie Watts, which would be their official lineup for the next seven years. In 1964, the Stones recorded their first number one hit, "It's All Over Now" at Chess Records in Chicago. The band had 5 other hits on the UK charts by the end of 1964. 

     Keith Richards is still alive today, but that doesn't mean that he hasn't been reckless. While hosting a party at his house at Redlands in 1967, Keith's home was raided by police, who found a small ammount of drugs owned by Richards' and a few of his party guests, one of whom was Eric Clapton.  When Keith was tried, he was sentenced to a year in prison, and Jagger was given 3 months. However, both of them were released on bail the next day. Keith met Brian Jones' girlfriend Anita Pallenberg by the end of 1968, and was dating her behind Jones' back by 1969. Keith had his first kid Marlon with Anita in 1969. Later that year, they were in a car crash with Marlon in the car. Luckily, everyone was okay. He was busted for drug use over a dozen times throughout the 70s. He claimed to have snorted his late father's ashes. Keith tried many  times to get sober in the 1970s, and finally he did. By the 80s, he was clean and married to Patti Hensen, who he is still married to today.

    Keith fell out of a tree in Fiji in 2006 and had to cancel a Stones' tour. In 2010 Richards' released his memoir "Life", which told of his upbringing, The Rolling Stones, his relationships with women, drug addiction, fights with Mich Jagger, and more. In 2012, The Stones' began their 50 year anniversary tour, going through 20+ cities in the world. The tour has continues through the past 2 years. As of last week, Keith is now the grandpa of 5 children.

     Well there you have it, somewhat of a guide to surviving Life as one of the most well known guitarists in the world. 71 years in this world have helped Keith Richards to accomplish a lot, and hopefully more to come. Long Live Keef. 

Sources:

"Keith Richards." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Feb. 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2014.

"KeithRichards.com." Official Website. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2014.

Palmer, Robert, and Mary Shanahan. The Rolling Stones. New York: Rolling Stone, 1983.

Richards, Keith, and James Fox. Life. New York: Little, Brown and, 2010. Print.

"The Rolling Stones." The Rolling Stones Home Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2014.