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 lessThis 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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