I like Keith Richards. I’ve already mentioned that here on Popthomology but it’s worth saying again because the Rolling Stones backbone has written his autobiography, "Life," which will be published on October 26, 2010, and Amazon assures me I shall receive it on my doorstep that very day. I’m not generally keen on celebrity memoirs because the authors often have little to offer outside of name-dropping gossip and not-particularly novel insight into…well, anything. Richards’ book promises plenty of salacious stories, including taking a snarky cut at bandmate Mick Jagger’s “pants pal.” Oh, boys, boys.
Why I think will make it a good read is that Richards is actually a pretty smart guy; honest to a fault and filled with good humor and a surprising amount of introspection. I don’t think the average person and maybe even the average rock fan knows this. To most, Richards remains the wild rock god, the hopeless drug addict, the take-no-prisoners pirate, the improbably-alive pre-aged monument to degeneracy, both loved and mocked for it. True, he is all of those things, but to me that is not the core of who he is. When Keith Richards first came into my young consciousness, he looked like this:
Kinda dorky in retrospect, huh? In that clip, you could still see in Richards some of the uncool misfit, the kid who threw himself into all those early rock n’ roll and R&B records and never had a chance with the girls, the regular guy, the common-sense bloke, someone you wouldn’t know was cool until you got to know him. That guy wasn’t sporting a skull ring…although he did get busted for the decidedly-dorky crime of public urination. For whatever fame and money and the times did to his head – and it surely did a great deal – I feel like Richards has fought hard to keep that kid with him. It may be the most important thing that kept him alive, in fact; something that grounded him just enough so that he never completely stepped over the edge. Look at the video again, and focus on Brian Jones. There is a difference.
However, pretty smart and fairly grounded didn't prevent Richards from going full-on rock star. Along the way, he made many deeply selfish and destructive decisions that were painful for his family, friends, and bandmates. The long chill between Richards and Jagger cannot have been only caused by Jagger’s total suck-up to the jet-set and shallow pursuits; for Jagger to trust a man whose best friend is always going to be some kind of mind-altering substance is a depressing and ill-advised pursuit. I like Keith Richards, and I like Mick Jagger, but I doubt I’d like either of them if I had to deal with them past a few beers and some bar stories. There is little chance of that, so instead I will enjoy Richards’ considerable wit and wisdom in his book, and appreciate that he lived long enough to write it. I’ll skim over some of the debauchery because, really, I’ve heard it before. But Richards’ has a real skill in coming up with some insights that are damn interesting and worthwhile, and those are what I am looking forward to mining in the pages.
The cover photograph that was chosen for the book is both contrived to feed his legend and perhaps reveal something of his character as well: that skull ring, illuminated by the fire of the lighter held like a revolver, the defiant cigarette…black-and-white, out-of-focus, hand hiding half his face, yet he's staring you right in the eye.
I'm Marianne Spellman. I am in Seattle-ish. I like and make music and words and photos and videos and coffee and have crappy eyesight, like every other blogger. I do freelance thingies for cool people and places every so often.
How To Choose A Democrat Nominee For President in 2020: 1. Candidate Aligns With Your Personal Values 2. Candidate Is Personable and Well-Funded 3. Candidate Is Maybe Not An Old White Man 4. Candidate Is Of Fine Character 5. The Person Who Will Beat The Orange Moron So Thoroughly That He Will Deflate Into A Gooey Melted Circus Peanut
"Twenty Feet From Stardom" film (June 4, 2013 via Facebook): "We love this review!!"
Ko Melina, The Dirtbombs, SIRIUS XM Underground Garage DJ (September 6, 2012, via Twitter): "Awesome #Bumbershoot photos of the @DirtbombsBand by @mariannesp..."
Kathy Valentine, The Go-Gos (August 23, 2011, via Twitter):
"Cool blog review & candid concert pics that capture the day perfectly!"
Bill Oglesby , Saxophonist, "Coronado," Deerhunter, Halcyon Digest (February 16, 2011, via YouTube):
"Hi Marianne, I'm the sax player on this cut and I've been enjoying this wonderful video collage that you put together for months.
I consider it quite an honor that you chose Illinois Jacquet to represent me not that I would compare my playing to his in any way, but Jacquet was a real soul-cat.
Thank you."
Keith Gordon, Co-Star & WM BFF, "Winnebago Man" (July 11, 2010, via Facebook):
Without doubt, the BEST and only original music with 'Bago bytes remix ever done. So this is what I get to hear swirling around in my head for the next few days? Welcome aboard; I'm delighted!"
Joel Heller, Producer, "Winnebago Man" (July 11, 2010, via Facebook):
"We love your song Marianne."
Ira Robbins, Trouser Press (March 20, 2010, via Facebook):
"great piece of writing. i liked the film better and the band less, but no matter. this is top-notch cultural criticism. give this woman a job!"
Chris Walter (Feb. 15, 2010, via Diarrhea Island):
"Nice piece, thank you. And thanks to Graham. I think all the photographers had a great time up there, it is an excellent book and exhibition.
Thanks
Chris"
Graham Nash (Feb. 8, 2010, via Diarrhea Island):
"Thanks so much for your very perceptive review of the show at the EMP...... Let's not forget to give thanks to Paul Allen and the people of Seattle for supporting the arts....
Again, well done."
John Cleese (Nov. 4, 2009, via Facebook):
"Nice review of the show by a real person."
God (Aug. 28, 2009, via Twitter):
"Listen, honey, if you weren't a chick you would so be smote right now."
Scarecrow’s 2024 Psychotronic Challenge: Day 10
-
"A slice and dice set in the city so nice they named it New York." by Megan
Seling
*10. NEW YORK NEW YORK: A slice and dice set in the city so nice they n...
Arguing bankruptcy fees with Nick Zluticky
-
[image: Arguing bankruptcy fees with Nick Zluticky]In this video, Nate
Mowry interviews Nick Zluticky, who represented John Q. Hammons Fall 2006,
LLC and...
Prince :: Come
-
“This is the dawning of a new spiritual revolution.” It was 1993. Prince
had just announced his eternal rest. Well, metaphorically—though perhaps
not ent...
RYAN HESHKA
-
Ryan Heshka wants you to “stay weird.” The Winnipeg-based “lowbrow” artist
does his part to embody and uphold weirdness by drawing on vintage pop
culture...
October 2024 Reviews
-
These are the reviews
and other projects I'm
working on this month.
*Seattle Film Blog: *Willard Huyck and Gloria's Katz's 1973 *Messiah of
Evil*: Dri...
Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark in Seattle
-
Seattle had a brush with royalty last week. Mary, Crown Princess of
Denmark, spent several days in Seattle to promote various causes. Her stops
included ...
SAYHI wrap up blog
-
today marianne blogged about seeing an indie hipster band called Say Hi
that records their songs on a mac. this most likely resulted in her having
to chang...
15 years ago
YOU CAN ALWAYS SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL! COMES WITH GOLDEN PLATTER!