1. Keith Richards 1943 - Present

2. Early Life Born in Dartford, England His grandfather was a musician and band leader. Developed his passion for singing through his school choir.

3. Teenage Years At age 15 gets his first guitar. Started learning Elvis tunes. Expelled from school for skipping class. Attends an arts school instead. Meets Mick Jagger and Dick Taylor and joins their band (Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys)

4. Rolling Stones (early) Richards, Taylor and Jagger are inspired by the blues, especially by Chuck Berry. They go to a club to hear a blues band play and the guest artist that night was Brian Jones. They like him so much that the three of them, plus Jones, plus their friend Ian Stewart form the early version of the band the Rolling Stones.

5. Rolling Stones (later) Taylor leaves the group, they pick up Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman. They market the group as a bunch of rough and tumble guys. Started out playing covers and then start to write original music. They top the British Charts in 1964, and start an American tour later that year.

6. The Rolling Stones

7. Drugs They lived up to their wild rocker reputation. They threw crazy parties and their house was raided by the police in 1967. Drug paraphernalia was found and they went to court over it. By the late 1970’s, Richards had a bad heroine and cocaine habit. Received a life sentence in jail for it. He received a reduced jail time because he sought treatment in the states.

8. The Break Up Despite troubles with the law, Richards gets back to making music with the Stones. They release an album in 1978, and it sells 8 million copies. Richards continues the struggle with drugs and it created tension in the band (bickering, long periods of time without speaking. The band takes a break starting in the mid 80’s as Richards and Jagger pursue solo careers.

9. Reunification and Other Projects The band gets back together in the 90’s and does a few song releases (but nothing really of note). In 2005, they release a studio album which does quite well, despite no hit singles. They start touring again in 2006. In 2007, Richards appears in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.

10. Characteristics Style: Classic Rock Direct and unpretentious playing. Intentionally tried not to be the “fastest gun in the west.” He prefers to team with at least 1 other guitarist when playing shows. Know for guitar interplay (weaving of lead and rhythm guitar) 4 th on Rolling Stone’s List of 100 best guitarists. He owns 3,000 guitars.

11. Keith Richards Today

12. Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Occyx3Z3vIU