“You never finish school man” - Keith Richards Talks Guitar, Arthritis, and New Album 'Hackney Diamonds'
Anyone who's followed the Rolling Stones' legendary career knows about Keith Richards' deep love for his guitar. Richards, 79, is still captivated by the instrument, boasting a collection of well over a thousand guitars. "The fascinating thing is that the more you play it, the less you know it," he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
As Richards has aged he's grappled with arthritis, but when asked about its impact on his playing in light of the Stones' upcoming album, 'Hackney Diamonds,' he responded: "Funnily enough, I've no doubt it has, but I don't have any pain; it's a sort of benign version. I think if I've slowed down a little bit, it's probably due more to age."
He added, "And also, I found that interesting, when I'm like, 'I can't quite do that anymore,' the guitar will show me there's another way of doing it. Some finger will go one space different, and a whole new door opens. And so you're always learning. You never finish school, man."
‘Hackney Diamonds’
'Hackney Diamonds,' the first album of new material from the band in 18 years, is set to release next week on Friday, October 20th. The album's title, 'Hackney Diamonds,' is London slang for the shards of glass strewn across the streets after a break-in, hinting at its untamed ferocity.
The new album features a lineup of iconic guests including Paul McCartney and Elton John, with superstars Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder featuring on the albums second single ‘Sweet Sounds of Heaven’. Richards shared his enthusiasm for working with Lady Gaga, saying, "Lady Gaga is a piece of work. I love working with her because she has a great attitude and a great voice, and I always wanted to see her play off against Mick."
So what does the future of the Rolling Stones look like?
The Rolling Stones are planning to take their new music on the road next year, as long as everyone is "still standing." Richards reassures fans, "We're all in good fettle. We're not looking at each other and saying, 'time's up.' My answer is I'm not Nostradamus. Of course, it's going to end sometime, but there's no particular rush. We're having great fun doing this."
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