Keith Gives Jagger, Led Zepp Hard Time
Keith Richards knocked partner Mick Jagger in a new interview in Uncut, calling him a “power freak,” according to AFP.
Richards, who is promoting the Rolling Stones’ latest concert documentary Shine A Light, which is directed by Martin Scorsese, described the difference between him and Jagger, explaining, “Mick’s a maniac. He can’t get up in the morning without knowing immediately who he’s going to call. Meanwhile, I just go ‘Thank God I’m awake’ and wait for three or four hours before I do anything. He is a power freak and there’s nothing we can do about it. I don’t want to do anything about it. Let him bugger about. It doesn’t make any difference to what we do.”
Richards went on to joke about Jagger’s legendary onstage antics, adding: “Excuse me while I laugh. He’s a bit vain, let’s put it like that. (But) we want a vain bloke up there, don’t we? Meanwhile, the band can go to work. Vanity will not carry a band. But a band can carry vanity.”
Richards also took time to knock Led Zeppelin’s recent reunion concert in London, pretending that he was unaware that the band had reunited: “They had one? Well, well done Jimmy (Page) and Robert (Plant). F*** off. ‘Stairway To Heaven’ don’t make it for me, baby… I know the fascination, but it ain’t worth it, pal.”
He was asked what, if any, advice he would offer to his younger self: “I’d have said ‘Lay off the dope.’ That’s my advice now to all younger members who are into this sort of thing — oh, give it up, it ain’t really worth it.”
Shine A Light was filmed and recorded on October 29th and November 1st, 2006 at New York City’s Beacon Theatre.
The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival on February 7th, and the Stones are set to attend the UK premiere on April 2nd at London’s Leicester Square.
The soundtrack album to Shine A Light will be released on April 1st, in both single and double disc editions.
Shine A Light will open in select U.S. theaters on April 4th.