Here are emails that don't fit into the other categories. I'll leave them pretty much in the way they came. I only edit out personal information that would identify the writer and pleas to Keith or the Stones for help, advice etc. Enjoy!
Adam Keith
God of Rock N Roll. Mr. Keith Richards of course. I'm 28 and think the Stones are and will be the best band that ever exsisted.I never really liked them until I was 22 and then one day I just popped. I play guitar myself and have been for 17 years.I play fast heavy music like Metallica and AC/DC, but have learned so much from Keith and how to play the damn thing. Like he says," You always find something new on it every time you pick it up". I collect Stones and Keith stuff intensely. I just picked up the Swedish version of the Run Rudolph Run 7" from '78.My living room is a shrine.
That would be a kick ass show for me.I never had the chance to see them. They came to Portland Oregon a few years back for the "Bridges to Babylon" but it sold out 2 nights at 15,000 seats a night in 1 hour.Now that's huge!Then they were here in '66, before my time.If I could have 1 wish it would be to spend one full weekend with Keith at a house by ourselves with the drink,drugs, and guitars.I honestly say that I would choose that over a $100,000 lottery ticket.It's somrthing that would never leave me and could never be replaced or forgotten.I would have loved to have seen and partied with them in '71-'72.Keith Richards is the King of Rock N Roll.Elvis is a putz!
Riccardo
I have the impression that Mr. Richards is and has been one the most important, if not the most important, songwriters in the history of rock. He established, with his riffs, the rock vocabulary and grammar. It is impossible to overestimate his contribution to rock music. Satisfaction, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Brown Sugar are all classics of rock and I do not think that there is any other artist out there who can legitimately claim to have given a greater contribution to the development of rock.
But Keith Richards is not only an extraordinary song writer, a Glimmer Twin, the heart of the Stones--he is, above al, an extraordinary performer.His cover of reggae classic "the harder they come", of "sing me back home" , "apartment n. 9", "worried life blues"(recorsed in the toronto sessions) are, in several cases, much better than the original recordings.
The same thing could be said as to Mr. Richards' performance of Judy Garland' "Somewhere over the rainbow" or Charmichael' "The nearness of You". I wish Mr. Richards decided to release an official record with all his covers. It would be a great gift for his fans and another great contribution to 20th century music.
Dave
I could go into way too much stuff about how much Keith Richards' music has affected my life. I, born in 1969, cherish anytime, that in solitude, can JAM to the music of Keith Richards - and JAM to all of the music that has been influenced by one of the most influential musicians of our time. I love Keith, and his music is all time.
Jesse
I am a 24 year old male and can find no way to stomach the majority of crap a lot of these so-called "musicians" of popular culture are generating or shall we say DEgenerating today. I find such a sense of peace listening to Keith Richard's guitar work and often listen to it to erase the garbage I accidently hear on contemporary radio that someone else listens to.
I also model my own guitar playing around his style and approach to music and own a Fender Telecaster just like one of the many he has. In my music room here at home, one could see the evidence of Keith's influence on me as I have pictures of him in several different places. It sorta creates an omnipresence of him. Looking around the room
I can just imagine that raspy British accented voice on a bad day saying, "Hey, kid, calm yourself... 'Now plug in your Telecaster and paint your anger out on the air."
There are inspirations, and there are influences when it comes down to awsome guitarists who fuel your fire to play the guitar. Keith Richards is one of few that fit in to both categories for me. I am listening to "Exile on Main Street" from '71 or '72 as I write this. One of my favourites to be honest. Many more albums to get of his before I am satisfied with my music collection though. My music room is literally a dedication to his legacy. Pictures here, there, and on both my Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster, as well as on my Fender amplifier. Totally awesome guitar man, cool guy too from what I've read of him. Looking forward to hearing his appearance with Eric Clapton on some blues album they're both contributing to this spring. I guess it will be out sometime in June of 2001. ---Always playing blues and rock out there somewhere, just like Keith....
James
i first heard "have you seen your mother' and was sold! and like most stone fans i was enamored with jagger. i got "december's children" and "between the buttons" the next christmas. me mum was not pleased. i got "let it bleed" from a cat in el paso who stole the damn thing. i put it on me stereo and hooked up my alarm clock to it and awoke each mornin to "country honk." my first visual of the stones was in phoenix, arizona in '69. it was then i discovered that keef was the soul of the stones and chawie was the heart. jagger was just their lead singer.
it was the same in mobile, ala in '72. keef led the band onstage and chawie provided the locomotion juice. when micky t. left the band i was stunned but figured they would survive. iwasn't at first pleased with the selection of ronnie wood as i had seen him with the faces and was not that impressed. however, he did cum around and he grew on me. in '75 i saw them in baton rouge, la and memphis, tenn and they really rocked. iiin new orleans in '78 and subsequent years thereafter.
my uncle by marriage was managed by bill carter who was their attorney for a few years and he managed to get me a autographed photo of keef. i would have to say that since '69 it has been keef who has rocked me on the water. he is and always will be the SOUL SURVIVOR and the one and only. he has surely laid down the bottomand the hardline for the stones.
Bill
Keith Ritchards to me is soul of the Rolling stones! He's like Jack Daniels whiskey he just keeps getting better with age. Rock on Keith :
Michelle
I was about 12 years old when keith first knocked me out,his sound opened up whole worlds inside me,it was the album 'Tattoo Yoy',my dad bought it and put it on,and I just started dancing around the living room,his ancient incredible rhythms sent rushes of colours swirling in patterns through my mind,and he'd put notes in places that seemed to come up behind me and say, 'here I am', then he'd descend into some secret chord laughing like a maniac genius, I'd like to sit down and talk with him,I love him,always will,for me he's right up there with Miles Davis ,Charlie Parker and Van Morrison,they're all magicians,beautiful.
Celso
I'm trying to get get an apology through to Keith Richards and have no idea how to do so. On Saturday night the 20th of Oct, I was told that I would be introducing Mick Jagger at the concert for New York. I had no idea that Keith would be there. I felt that I had done a grave disservice by omiting Keith in the introduction. He has earned the right for as much recognition as Mr. Jagger(In my opinion). If there is anyway you can forward this I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.
Eric
I simply love Keith. When I think that the most part of musics I love were written by Keith my gratitude for him increase more and more. I saw Keith on stage when the Stones made the first brazilian tour, the "Vodoo Lounge". I lend a binoculars and looked for him all the time. I think he understand rock'n'roll as I do and feel it as me. Maybe for this reason Keith's songs touch my heart in a so beautiful manner. That's all.
Karen
Please don't be upset but I am new to this web thing and I have been the greatest fan of the Rolling Stones on this Earth since 1963 and Keith is my soulmate and always has been. I saw the Stones (first row) on july 12 1966 and since that day I have never wavered in my devotion to this guitarist extraordinaire. In the mid 70"s I was so impacted by the reggae influence that was springing free I began to look into reggae music-managed to hook up with Bob Marley and the rest has been my history. Thanks to Keith I have been a devout Rastafarian for almost 25 years and I literally bless Mr. Keith Richards for my enlightment. I almost dislike proselytizing upon what I do and do not like about Keith because there is nothing I dislike about him and my anonymity suits me as well. I don't dare to think I have much to offer Keith in knowledge but I know that inside his heart he knows full well that only one person can truly be his "greatest fan" and I have the patent on that-so all is well and maybe in the final incarnation of makind I will meet him riding out to meet Jah Rastafari and I shall seek his strength and power at that time. May Jah bless Keith and keep Keith each and every day. There will never be another Keith. That much I am certain of.
Chris
The way I see it, the stale interviews conducted by the 60 minutes team year after year are an ugly reminder of the days when the stones went dry. To this day they are satisfying a contract agreed to in the late seventies with ABC. Instead of letting the Stones get out of it they feature them as a carnival freak show. Hence the unending mindless questions about age [like a spokesperson or TV journalist doesn’t have to worry about wrinkles.]
I only wish that one of the members of the band would say someday You bag! The only reason I’m sitting here answering your benign questions is because Mick sold out in 78’ and gave an exclusive to Barbara Walters. The sad fact is not one member of the ABC team wants to do these interviews and not one fan wants to hear the lame questions asked of the band. In fact I don’t ever remember hearing or reading a decent interview with the stones. Did they ever think of asking a fan to do one?
By the way boys, I appreciate your efforts to play instead of act for a change. Most of us have waited for 25 years. Your latest tour is scratching the surface but did you ever think of asking the fans what they want to hear? I never saw a band that was so out of touch with the people that love you the most. Most die-hard stones fans are at least 45 years old, they have the broadest of tastes, none of which has anything to do with top forty. We sit and wonder for 25-35 years “What the hell are they doing?”. Year after year loving the new album but wondering why you always play the fillers in concert? I myself wonder if the boys are in touch at all.
This has to be said, I don’t know if one of you even try to figure out what the intelligent fans think. The stones fans that have appreciated history and culture first, thought about why the stones don’t incorporate, get mad that they don’t, then like the stones anyway. I was going to bring up Al DeMIOLA, the way his world symphony seemed to meld all folk music from around the world and show it’s root origin but then I realized he saw the world as it relates to latino-classico, now I’m at a loss for my stones.
But I still want to know why no one has mentioned the last Saturday night at the garden from Bridges???? Was I the only one there? Now I spent my fortune on broker seats at Giant Stadium. I thought for once I would spend five times the money because I’m older now, never missed a tour since 75, and never in all my years ever got a good seat. Have you? I wish I’d be able to see all those people in the front rows year after year and even ask them what their favorite stone’s song was. The night in Giant’s stadium when I spent over 500 in tots for my brother cousin d. and me we were seated behind a huge gold Romanesque statue. I never would have paid that much. It was my last shot.
After 25 years of the stones I thought I could buy a good seat. After 30 yrs of dead shows surely karma would give me a good seat for a few hours. The gold statues that meant so much to the stones but absolutely nothing to me were right in between me and a good clear view of the rolling stones band I knew now I would, after 30 years never ever see up close without a TV or in my dreams.
Well if one of the three stones ever read this letter by some fluke, don’t think I didn’t have you in mind. I wrote this long letter with Charlie in mind. How many people even know that rock drummers are categorized as either Charlie or Ring? How many Jazz clubs in P.A. have been supporting the arts for fifty years without the stones even knowing it? Your buddies at the Blue Note have been in touch with the clubs around here. You know Keith I don’t expect Mick to help the people around the states but for some reason I expect you to. Maybe because you seem more grounded or maybe because Patti is definitely so.
I know Patti from high school its funny how grounded ski. south end Tiptonville meant to a person. Remember oink? When I started this letter it was meant for another fan. I pride myself in the songs/if not songs arrangements my stones have done for me.
Rick
I became a rolling stones fan and Keith fan in particular when I saw them on the steel wheels tour on fox in 1990. I was only 12 but I knew then that I was seeing a phenomenon. I grew up listening to Beatles albums my mom had, but she hated the stones maybe that’s why I like them so much. I immediately begged for a guitar and for Christmas of '90 I got a beginner acoustic. Not what I had in mind but cool enough. I taped the stones show and watched it religiously every chance I got. I would mimic Keith’s moves in the mirror and soon I was playing by ear their early stuff. Then 4 years later I got a job and saved enough $ to by a Strat. copy and then started getting serious. The cool thing about Keith’s playing is its not that technical but he plays like it is. Definitely a style all his own P.S. I wish Brian Jones was still alive.
Wim
hi,
my birthday is 17 march ( like keith 's wifes )
my wifes birthday is 18 december ( like keith's , if i'm right )
funny isn't it ?
Angel
I'm sorry for the language but i'm French.
I write you for you explain my life. I love Keith not like a teenagers but like a daugther love his father! I listen the Stones since my birthday. I'm born 26th july, like Jagger. My brother wanted to call me Keith. But it's not a name for a girl ! since this day, my life is for keith only. I play guitar, with a télécaster like Keith, i have a tatoo for keith....
my name is angela like the daugther of keith, but we called me Angie like the song.
Mark
heres my gig...
Michael
I think keith is class at guitar,and dead funny,but i can never find out how many guitars or what guitars he's hes got.
Sharry
ONE OF THE MOST HANDSOME MEN ALIVE