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Keith Richards’ one secret to a long life in rock music: “That’s the only secret”
Keith Richards, the Rolling Stones guitarist known for decades of hard living, has addressed the frequent question of how he has survived to the age of 82 despite a lifestyle rarely associated with longevity. In a resurfaced interview with The Guitar Player, he dismissed the idea of any special trick, insisting there is no hidden formula behind his endurance, though he went on to offer one contributing factor regardless.
Richards attributed the Rolling Stones' lasting success not to physical resilience but to the camaraderie between band members, saying the key is finding people you can both play with and get along with, free from ego clashes or power struggles. He cited his relationships with bandmates such as Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman and Ronnie Wood as sources of genuine friendship rather than professional rivalry. Although the interview dates back to 1983, over four decades on Richards and the band remain active, suggesting that the low-conflict dynamic he described may indeed have played a part in their remarkable staying power.
In short
- Keith Richards says there's no secret to his longevity
- He credits band camaraderie over any lifestyle explanation
- Comments originally made in a 1983 Guitar Player interview
Explained simply
The Rolling Stones are a British rock band formed in London in 1962. Keith Richards is one of its founding members and plays guitar; the group’s other long-standing members have included drummer Charlie Watts, bassist Bill Wyman and guitarist Ronnie Wood.
Bands can change as members leave or die, and disagreements over music, money or leadership can make it harder for a group to keep working together. The Stones’ long career has made their relationships as bandmates a subject of interest, as well as their music and public image.
Richards has often been asked how he has lived into his eighties after years of heavy partying. His comments connect the band’s staying power with getting on well and playing together, rather than with a special formula for staying healthy.