# Keith Richards didn’t think punk musicians could play. Then, they claim it “kicked their ass”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/keith-richards-didnt-think-punk-musicians-could-play-then-they-claim-it-kicked-their-ass/
- Published: 2026-10-30T02:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-30T02:10:23+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/keith-richards-didnt-think-punk-musicians-could-play-then-they-claim-it-kicked-their-ass/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Richards thought punk lacked playing skill but valued its energy.
- Punk gave the Rolling Stones a wake-up call.
- ‘Respectable’ reflected a rougher, more visceral sound.

## Summary

Keith Richards initially thought punk musicians lacked musical skill, but he admired their attitude and energy. He said the scene gave the Rolling Stones a needed “kick up our ass”, helping push them towards a rawer, more direct sound.

The article links punk’s influence to the Stones’ song ‘Respectable’, whose rough-edged style could stand alongside music by the Sex Pistols and Ramones. It also notes that Richards continued to seek fast, visceral songs even as the band played increasingly large venues.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.