What would Keith Richards do_ - Jessica Pallington West [3]
This is a Keith favorite. And it’s not merely a bloated opinion about the band he happens to play guitar for. As with many of Keith’s well-traveled subjects—drugs, the self, the guitar, and, of course, Mick— the Rolling Stones is something that takes on higher metaphorical meaning when Keith starts talking. The Stones amounts to an overlord—an entity that we helped create but that has become bigger than we are.
We all have something that we are part of, whether it’s a family, a community, a crowd in the street, an economy. Or our little spot in the grand picture—the world as a whole.
We are part of creating things that become Frankenstein monsters. That monster can then be one of creativity or destruction, nurturing or neglect. Shelley’s monster, after all, was never inherently evil—it was only pushed into a dark corner by those who created it.
What are some other Rolling Stoneses? Offices. Corporations. Societies—the open ones and the secret ones and those trying to be utopias. Neighborhoods. Governments. Things that we refer to as some ominous “other presence”—a “them.” But who makes up the “them”? Who makes up the invisible mystical force that somehow became a noun?
Recognize that you’re essential to the creation and continuation of whatever your particular Rolling Stones is. You can nurture it, or keep away from it, but remember: “It’s bigger than both of us, baby.”
It is without us, but it is also within us.
Direct thyself. Create thyself.
“The Stones always have to look for the Stones in themselves. ”
5. THE CONSTRUCT OF THE BAND IS A MODEL FOR INTERACTION.
“Chemistry was one of those subjects in school that I was never good at … but I think it’s the unknown bit—the mysterious spark—that does it. It’s the same with the Stones. I mean, line ’em up against a wall, and they’re the most unlikely good rock ’n’ roll band that you could find! … There’s something to be said for a certain chemistry between people that makes for a certain kind of music.”
It has repeatedly been noted about the Stones that, just as with the Beat-les, much of their success and magic came down to the right combination of people. Just the right chemical combination. Ron Wood put his two cents in here as well: “Individually, we hardly make an impression, but together we have a power which is beyond us.” The sum of the separate personalities when brought together—as well as the instruments—creates a symphony, a song. The unit of a band is a conglomeration of balancing personalities and instruments. It is stronger as a whole.
In living life the Keith Richards way, we accept different personalities and styles as separate entities that are necessary to work together. They all have a need and a purpose. Even Mick. The members of the band are “other selves.” They all work in harmony, creating one sound.
Of course, some bands are better than others. And as much as you can, listen closely to the music and decipher which are the good and bad bands. Veer toward the good, steer away from the bad. While good music is health for the soul, crappy music can destroy it. Or cause insanity.
If the other band members look as if they have to stand in front of the mirror to practice spitting, say no. Some quick tips on bad bands: Anything where there’s a lot of posing going on, run. In this realm, according to Keith: David Bowie, Beck, Duran Duran. Or anyone who needs a shave, like George Michael. Or that needs a good ten more years of growing up before you can look at it without rolling your eyes, like Oasis. And anything that has even a touch of Elton John in it—run like the goddamn wind. Run as if the candles in the wind had fallen off their holders and were about to set the place on fire. Run as if Satan himself were after you.
Good bands: AC/DC. Motorhead. Anything real that has an authentic “human touch.” Little Richard, Elvis, Buddy Holly. There should be no doubt that the singer means what he’s saying.
Overkill of saxophones: Protect your loved ones from this. Sixteen guitars: They’re faking it. The absence of a drummer: suspect. If