The 1956 song Keith Richards thought was so perfect he wouldn’t dare touch it: “The whole package”

Keith Richards said that Buddy Holly’s 1956 song ‘Peggy Sue’ was so closely tied to Holly’s distinctive playing and performance that he would not seriously attempt to cover it. His comments highlight how a seemingly simple rock ’n’ roll song can be difficult to reproduce when its writer’s rhythm, singing and production are inseparable from its identity.

Richards described Holly as doing “the whole package” himself, and said he did not know anyone who had dared to make a serious cover, although some performed it on stage. The article notes that ‘Peggy Sue’ uses only four chords, but argues that Holly’s driving rhythm was central to its sound; covers by John Lennon were presented as tributes rather than attempts to match him.