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Life

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Hardcover published by Little, Brown and Company (Little, Brown and Company)

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About This Book
The long-awaited autobiography of the guitarist, songwriter, singer, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Ladies and gentlemen: Keith Richards.

With The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards created the songs that roused the world, and he lived the original rock and roll life.

Now, at last, the man himself tells his story of life in the crossfire hurricane. Listening obsessively to Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters records, learning guitar and forming a band with Mick Jagger and Brian Jones. The Rolling Stones's first fame and the notorious drug busts that led to his enduring image as an outlaw folk hero. Creating immortal riffs like the ones in "Jumping Jack Flash" and "Honky Tonk Women." His relationship with Anita Pallenberg and the death of Brian Jones. Tax exile in France, wildfire tours of the U.S., isolation and addiction. Falling in love with Patti Hansen. Estrangement from Jagger and subsequent reconciliation. Marriage, family, solo albums and Xpensive Winos, and the road that goes on forever.

With his trademark disarming honesty, Keith Richard brings us the story of a life we have all longed to know more of, unfettered, fearless, and true.
Show less
The long-awaited autobiography of the guitarist, songwriter, singer, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Ladies and gentlemen: Keith Richards.

With The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards created the songs that roused the world, and he lived the original rock and roll life.

Now, at last, the man himself tells his story of life in the crossfire hurricane. Listening obsessively to Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters records, learning guitar and forming a band with Mick Jagger and Brian Jones. The Rolling Stones's first fame and the notorious drug busts that led to his enduring image as an outlaw folk hero. Creating immortal riffs like the ones in "Jumping Jack Flash" and "Honky Tonk Women." His relationship with Anita Pallenberg and the death of Brian Jones. Tax exile in France, wildfire tours of the U.S., isolation and addiction. Falling in love with Patti Hansen. Estrangement from Jagger and subsequent reconciliation. Marriage, family, solo albums and Xpensive Winos, and the road that goes on forever.

With his trademark disarming honesty, Keith Richard brings us the story of a life we have all longed to know more of, unfettered, fearless, and true.
Product Details
Hardcover (576 pages)
Published: October 26, 2010
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Imprint: Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 9780316034388
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    Life

    Life
    The long-awaited autobiography of the guitarist, songwriter, singer, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Ladies and gentlemen: Keith Richards. With The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards created the songs that roused the world, and he lived the original rock and roll life. Now, at last, the man himself tells his story of life in the crossfire hurricane. Listening obsessively to Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters records, learning guitar and forming a band with Mick Jagger and Brian Jones. The Rolling Stones's first fame and the notorious drug busts that led to his enduring image as an outlaw folk hero. Creating immortal riffs like the ones in "Jumping Jack Flash" and "Honky Tonk Women." His relationship with Anita Pallenberg and the death of Brian Jones. Tax exile in France, wildfire tours of the U.S., isolation and addiction. Falling in love with Patti Hansen. Estrangement from Jagger and subsequent reconciliation. Marriage, family, solo albums and Xpensive Winos, and the road that goes on forever. With his trademark disarming honesty, Keith Richard brings us the story of a life we have all longed to know more of, unfettered, fearless, and true.

    Life

    Life
    As lead guitarist of the Rolling Stones, Keith Richards created the riffs, the lyrics, and the songs that roused the world. A true and towering original, he has always walked his own path, spoken his mind, and done things his own way. Now at last Richards pauses to tell his story in the most anticipated autobiography in decades. And what a story! Listening obsessively to Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters records in a coldwater flat with Mick Jagger and Brian Jones, building a sound and a band out of music they loved. Finding fame and success as a bad-boy band, only to find themselves challenged by authorities everywhere. Dropping his guitar's sixth string to create a new sound that allowed him to create immortal riffs like those in "Honky Tonk Woman" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash." Falling in love with Anita Pallenberg, Brian Jones's girlfriend. Arrested and imprisoned for drug possession. Tax exile in France and recording Exile on Main Street. Ever-increasing fame, isolation, and addiction making life an ever faster frenzy. Through it all, Richards remained devoted to the music of the band, until even that was challenged by Mick Jagger's attempt at a solo career, leading to a decade of conflicts and ultimately the biggest reunion tour in history. In a voice that is uniquely and unmistakably him--part growl, part laugh--Keith Richards brings us the truest rock-and-roll life of our times, unfettered and fearless and true. Richards' rich voice introduces the audiobook edition of LIFE and leads us into Johnny Depp's performance, while fellow artist Joe Hurley bridges the long road traveled before Richards closes with the final chapter of this incredible 23-hour production, which includes a bonus PDF of photos.

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BookReviews
23 Total Reviews

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REVIEWS

  • Posted Just Now

     

  • November 11, 2012
    LibraryThing User

    A terrific fun read! This autobiography gave me lots of insight into Keith Richards' world, and some fascinating background information on The Rolling Stones. Not one to "dish dirt," Richards wrote mostly about his own experiences, and took full responsibility for the bad and good things that have happened to him. Within this unfiltered picture of the "sex, drugs, rock&roll" sixties (and well beyond) focuses mainly on the music. I found myself unable to give the book away after reading it, because there are so many parts I want to read again. For example, he talks a lot about unusual music techniques used in specific songs, making me want to grab the right CD and listen to each with his explanation in mind.Richards' story is not told in strictly chronological order. Chapters are short and peppy. Many times he'll mention a person or situation briefly, and add "But that's another story," and the reader can look forward to finding that story later in the book.Even though I've been a fan of the Rolling Stones' music for more than 50 years, I knew little about the individual band members beyond what appeared in newspapers. Having attended a number of their concerts, I had some appreciation for Keith Richards as a musician. This book surprised me by making me fond of him as a person.

    Show less

    A terrific fun read! This autobiography gave me lots of insight into Keith Richards' world, and some fascinating background information on The Rolling Stones. Not one to "dish dirt," Richards wrote mostly about his own experiences, and took full responsibility for the bad and good things that have happened to him. Within this unfiltered picture of the "sex, drugs, rock&roll" sixties (and well beyond) focuses mainly on the music. I found myself unable to give the book away after reading it, because there are so many parts I want to read again. For example, he talks a lot about unusual music techniques used in specific songs, making me want to grab the right CD and listen to each with his explanation in mind.Richards' story is not told in strictly chronological order. Chapters are short and peppy. Many times he'll mention a person or situation briefly, and add "But that's another story," and the reader can look forward to finding that story later in the book.Even though I've been a fan of the Rolling Stones' music for more than 50 years, I knew little about the individual band members beyond what appeared in newspapers. Having attended a number of their concerts, I had some appreciation for Keith Richards as a musician. This book surprised me by making me fond of him as a person.


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  • October 10, 2011
    LibraryThing User

    I truly have a different perspective of Keith Richards after reading this book. He is a man that has struggled with addiction, anchored one of the best bands in rock and roll history, and has come out of it a pretty damn accomplished. Of course I read it to find out all the inside secrets about his relationship with Mick Jagger, and I was not disappointed. However, I found myself more interested in Keith and his addiction to heroin, his loves, and his music. This is really a great book with great history.

    Show less

    I truly have a different perspective of Keith Richards after reading this book. He is a man that has struggled with addiction, anchored one of the best bands in rock and roll history, and has come out of it a pretty damn accomplished. Of course I read it to find out all the inside secrets about his relationship with Mick Jagger, and I was not disappointed. However, I found myself more interested in Keith and his addiction to heroin, his loves, and his music. This is really a great book with great history.


    Was this review helpful to you? Helpful|Not Helpful


  • August 19, 2011
    LibraryThing User

    This audio book blew me away. It takes the listener on a journey into a life and time never again to be repeated. It offers both an autobiography and a history. Johnny Depp and Joe Hurley narrate in an engrossing, moving style with a natural, easy flow. The contrast between Hurley’s intensity and Depp’s more controlled delivery eases the listener into the 22 hours without feeling tedious. In fact, it felt like sitting around with Keith Richards, listening to him tell his story. Perhaps if you’re not a music fan, it might not appeal to you. If you grew up listening to the radio, LPs or anything else from Elvis to U2, this book is for you. He offers the history of rock and roll, the transitions from styles and genres of everything post World War II. He covers it all making connections between genres, local distinctions in genres, and where they blend. Chicago blues is his foundation, but everything is covered from London to Texas and more. I found myself on YouTube while listening, looking up different artists he discusses and seeing for myself. I listened to the book while looking at photos of the musicians he discussed, reading info on Wikipedia, and then listening to them perform on YouTube, what an experience.Richards’ passion for the guitar is evident. He shares his knowledge of technique, equipment, strings, amps, and tuning. I have no idea what 5 string open tuning is, but I know it changed the sound of many performers’ music. Sound, finding just the right one for each tune, is what Richards is all about. It is a gift and an art. The sections on songwriting, the process, creativity, mindset, and magic were some of my favorites. He writes about the experience of being in a band, playing anywhere, when everything slips away and the band is one or when he plays with another guitar player and they weave and blend and become seamless. This is why I love this book.Now for the hard bits….his drug addition, troubles with the law, bad behavior, and periods of horrific parenting. He does not often make apologies for his actions, rather presents them and moves on, with the exception of the death of his son. In this case Richards confesses heart wrenching regret. His life is what it is, a story of his survival. Really, he did drugs to BOTH be Keith Richards the rock star AND to escape being Keith Richards the rock star. The fact that he came out the other end is simply a miracle. At times, the book presents a study of human dynamics with the relationships within the Rolling Stones, his family, friends, the public, and with himself.Like many of this genre, it only tells one side of the story. Nonetheless, Richards offers statements from those around him during different periods. It is well researched; some letters, diaries and other primary sources are used to fill in gaps in his memory, as well as the recollections of others. The writing is mostly chronological, but some incidents are referred to multiple times as they relate to different people and events. These did not detract from my interest or attention.The narration is not to be missed. Johnny Depp and Joe Hurley became Keith Richards. The rhythm, expressions, pauses, humor, laughs, sighs, every sentence is perfect. I highly recommend this audio book for rock and roll fans, 1960’s and 1970’s history enthusiasts, and for guitar players especially, a must. Life won the Audio Book of the Year Award from the Audio Publishers Association for 2011.

    Show less

    This audio book blew me away. It takes the listener on a journey into a life and time never again to be repeated. It offers both an autobiography and a history. Johnny Depp and Joe Hurley narrate in an engrossing, moving style with a natural, easy flow. The contrast between Hurley’s intensity and Depp’s more controlled delivery eases the listener into the 22 hours without feeling tedious. In fact, it felt like sitting around with Keith Richards, listening to him tell his story. Perhaps if you’re not a music fan, it might not appeal to you. If you grew up listening to the radio, LPs or anything else from Elvis to U2, this book is for you. He offers the history of rock and roll, the transitions from styles and genres of everything post World War II. He covers it all making connections between genres, local distinctions in genres, and where they blend. Chicago blues is his foundation, but everything is covered from London to Texas and more. I found myself on YouTube while listening, looking up different artists he discusses and seeing for myself. I listened to the book while looking at photos of the musicians he discussed, reading info on Wikipedia, and then listening to them perform on YouTube, what an experience.Richards’ passion for the guitar is evident. He shares his knowledge of technique, equipment, strings, amps, and tuning. I have no idea what 5 string open tuning is, but I know it changed the sound of many performers’ music. Sound, finding just the right one for each tune, is what Richards is all about. It is a gift and an art. The sections on songwriting, the process, creativity, mindset, and magic were some of my favorites. He writes about the experience of being in a band, playing anywhere, when everything slips away and the band is one or when he plays with another guitar player and they weave and blend and become seamless. This is why I love this book.Now for the hard bits….his drug addition, troubles with the law, bad behavior, and periods of horrific parenting. He does not often make apologies for his actions, rather presents them and moves on, with the exception of the death of his son. In this case Richards confesses heart wrenching regret. His life is what it is, a story of his survival. Really, he did drugs to BOTH be Keith Richards the rock star AND to escape being Keith Richards the rock star. The fact that he came out the other end is simply a miracle. At times, the book presents a study of human dynamics with the relationships within the Rolling Stones, his family, friends, the public, and with himself.Like many of this genre, it only tells one side of the story. Nonetheless, Richards offers statements from those around him during different periods. It is well researched; some letters, diaries and other primary sources are used to fill in gaps in his memory, as well as the recollections of others. The writing is mostly chronological, but some incidents are referred to multiple times as they relate to different people and events. These did not detract from my interest or attention.The narration is not to be missed. Johnny Depp and Joe Hurley became Keith Richards. The rhythm, expressions, pauses, humor, laughs, sighs, every sentence is perfect. I highly recommend this audio book for rock and roll fans, 1960’s and 1970’s history enthusiasts, and for guitar players especially, a must. Life won the Audio Book of the Year Award from the Audio Publishers Association for 2011.


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