rollingstones

Life | Keith Richards

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The story of a singular life but also music history, British history, cultural history, drug history.
Pros: Respect for, sharing and collaboration with musicians.
Cons: Casual misogyny, and yet love for women, less about sex than affection, mother issues? (She didn't seem overly affectionate.) Not certain how great a husband or father he's been, and the language occasionally reveals his membership in an earlier generation. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? Full acknowledgement of calamity, when it originates with Keith, when it doesn't, addiction and friction with Mick.
Very much get the sense of an honest recounting because of the 'warts and all' vibes, as much as there are regrets and justifications mixed in. 2d

Robotswithpersonality 3/? It's disheartening to hear institutions failing a young Richards, school and then law enforcement, but these days, it feels more mainstream left than 60s anti-establishment to recognize that formal school structures are the bare bones in education that can always be improved and expanded upon, and law enforcement is in need of abolition as much as overhaul. 2d

Robotswithpersonality 4/? Likewise, you hope that rehabilitation and recuperation rather than targeted surveillance and search is the plan for those experiencing addiction.
Richards does occasionally toss out a 'don't recommend, don't try this at home' but he also gets pretty detailed about various drug shenanigans, more casual than contrite. Glad to hear he's off it now. 2d

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Robotswithpersonality 5/? Never fun to listen to a band go through a schism, but you're left with an image of Richards' checked-out heroin time being productive but mellow leaving Mick with greater control, and an ego that a sobered Richards didn't want to play second fiddle to. It's a subjective retelling, but the delivery and subsequent recounting of some patching up lends credence to the idea. (edited) 2d

Robotswithpersonality 6/? I've more interest in the history of Richards and the band than the present, admittedly, so I'm willing to let this version of events stand. I can't say I'm a huge Richards groupie, but I think there's a distinct value in the memoirs of elderly cultural figures, dare I say celebrities, because the life span is such that they were involved in the creation of pop culture that was part of the zeitgeist by the time I was culturally aware. 2d

Robotswithpersonality 7/? Fascinating to see that time come to life.

The audiobook was an interesting experience, because there are long chunks of solid deadpan reading by Johnny Depp, then a very lively, lengthy section of what appear to be the most rollicking years by Joe Hurley, more Depp and an end cap from Richards himself, where he wraps up with more recent events. 2d

Robotswithpersonality 8/8 Gets a bit muddled because Keith is happy to quote friends for scenes where he doesn't remember as well, might want an eye witness or outsider perspective, and while Hurley puts on voices to distinguish, Depp doesn't. Who knew the more famous actor would be the drier narrator. Guess audiobooks really are a different medium in terms of performance.

⚠️animal death, domestic abuse, 2d

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Robotswithpersonality

Life | Keith Richards

It was very like a drug...I could kick smack. I couldn't kick music.

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rockpools

Life | Keith Richards

Being a bear of very little brain at the moment, I‘ve gone for a book that‘s in the house, reported to be a really good read, and I‘m not invested enough in to be horribly disappointed if they all turn out to be despicable characters!

Plus a matching song, (The Stones - It‘s Only Rock‘n‘Roll) which had a truly horrible single cover.

#titlesAndTunes #SexDrugsAndRockAndRoll

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

rockpools The book also happens to contain one of my all time favourite rock‘n‘roll index entries. And what do you mean you don‘t have a favourite index entry?! 1y

squirrelbrain Now we need to know what the index entry is! 😁 1y

rockpools @squirrelbrain Saving that til I actually read the book! Also debating whether now would be a good time to read Daisy Jones instead. What do you reckon. Would I hate it?! 1y

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Cinfhen Ohhhh, share!!! And I LOVE the choice💗 1y

Cinfhen Daisy J is another great book for the prompt!! I heard the audio for Daisy is AMAZING 1y

squirrelbrain I liked Daisy Jones, but read it years ago…. I think at the first ever Gladstone‘s! This one was *much* better and I loved it on audio, if you can get it. It would also fit the prompt. I think you loved it too, Cindy? @Cinfhen

Mary Jane: a Novel

Cinfhen Ohhhhh, that‘s a fabulous suggestion @squirrelbrain 1y

rockpools @Cinfhen @squirrelbrain Post two books I intend to read, stack 4 I might read instead! Standard 😁. Thanks guys - I don‘t remember seeing Mary Jane but it sounds fab! 1y

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RamsFan1963

The Stone Age: Sixty Years of The Rolling Stones | Lesley-Ann Jones

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141/150 This is a very strange book, its not easy to review. There is an uneasy dichotomy within it. On one hand, the author greatly admires and respects the Rolling Stones musical legacy and their talent, but on the other hand, her words drip with disgust and disdain when discussing the private lives of the band members. Their misogyny, their womanizing, their drug use, Jagger's serial infidelity, Wyman's pedophilia, continued in the comments ⬇️

RamsFan1963 and the bands general callousness to their fans and former band members like Brian Jones. It's definitely a warts and all portrayal of the band. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2y

RamsFan1963 3rd book finished for #NovelNovember @Andrew65 2y

Andrew65 Going great 👏👏👏 2y

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