Life

By: Keith Richards, James Fox

Narrated by: Johnny Depp, Joe Hurley

Length: 23 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

The long-awaited autobiography of Keith Richards, guitarist, songwriter, singer, and founding member of the Rolling Stones.

With The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards created the songs that roused the world, and he lived the original rock and roll life. Now, at last, the man himself tells his story of life in the crossfire hurricane. Listening obsessively to Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters records, learning guitar and forming a band with Mick Jagger and Brian Jones. The Rolling Stones's first fame and the notorious drug busts that led to his enduring image as an outlaw folk hero. Creating immortal riffs like the ones in "Jumping Jack Flash" and "Honky Tonk Women." His relationship with Anita Pallenberg and the death of Brian Jones. Tax exile in France, wildfire tours of the U.S., isolation and addiction. Falling in love with Patti Hansen. Estrangement from Jagger and subsequent reconciliation. Marriage, family, solo albums and Xpensive Winos, and the road that goes on forever.

With his trademark disarming honesty, Keith Richard brings us the story of a life we have all longed to know more of, unfettered, fearless, and true.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2010 Keith Richards (P)2010 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"[A] high-def, high-velocity portrait of the era when rock 'n' roll came of age, a raw report from deep inside the counterculture maelstrom of how that music swept like a tsunami over Britain and the United States....Mr. Richards has found a way to channel to the reader his own avidity, his own deep soul hunger for music and to make us feel the connections that bind one generation of musicians to another. Along the way he even manages to communicate something of that magic, electromagnetic experience of playing on stage with his mates, be it in a little club or a huge stadium." (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times)

"[A] slurry romp through the life of a man who knew every pleasure, denied himself nothing, and never paid the price." (David Remnick, The New Yorker)

"A vivid self-portrait and, of the Stones and their musical era, a grand group portrait....spellbinding storytelling." (Richard Corliss, Time)

Thumbs up for Depp, Total thumbs down for Hurley

I'm totally enjoying this book including the early post war days in England and now the early 60's. Johnny Depp does a nice job for the first four chapters then the Joe Hurley train wreck hits in chapter 5. I know the real Keith can be painful to listen to at times but Hurley is obviously trying to do his best chain smoking, Jack Daniels swilling Keef and its not working for me. It is too over the top. I'm going to have trouble getting through the next 10 hours or so. Its ashame, too bad Johnny must have had other things to do.

Not a Stoner..

If you could sum up Life in three words, what would they be?

An Excellent Story!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Keith --he showed great heart.

What about Johnny Depp and Joe Hurley ’s performance did you like?

Liked when they used the Cockney accent

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I came into adulthood during the 70's. Of course I knew of the Stones but I never would say I loved or followed their music.

This was just a great story about someone who helped define the times of my life. It was of course an interesting and varied story. And surprisingly...I fell in love with Keith...

The interaction of Richards, and Depp didn't stop.

Where does Life rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

His chapter on his 5 string open G tuning was worth the price of admission alone. Very informative, insightful, and (as a guitarist) inspiring. It was nice to know that I managed to F**K Up my life with the best of them, and that I'm not alone.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Outside of Keith (which is why I bought the audio book in the first place), probably Woodie (Ron Wood). Both incredible on guitar.

What does Johnny Depp and Joe Hurley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Lets face it, Jack Sparrow (by all accounts) was Keith Richards, and they've been kindred spirits ever since.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

LIFE of a Stone, a guitarist, a junkie, and a person.

Any additional comments?

I just genuinely enjoyed this book. It's interesting to know how some of the Stones songs came to be written. I'd rate it a strong R, but I don't regret listening to it. From the first chapter, you know that you're in for a bumpy ride, so fasten your seat belts.

almost like being there

For the stories that Keith Richards did write about, they were descriptive and gritty. While I wouldn't consider this a comprehensive look at his life, he does share a wide range of tidbits with us. Narration was first rate.

Great stories and well read

Overall a good book with some funny & interestings ancedotes. Suffers the fate of most auto-bios though in that the person writing it is always the "good guy". According to Keith he rarely slept around, was never the protagonist in any argument, and was usually the innocent buffetted by actions of others.

Good but too long

I enjoyed this book. some of the stories were great. but too many times the story went sideways with no structure or reason. I didn't think Johnny Depp was right for this book. Joe Hurley was awesome. this book could've been just as good with much fewer pages.

Different narrators--still great

It jars at first when Joe Hurley takes over. I presume Mr Depp didn't have time to do the whole thing and suddenly there is a noticeably different voice. After about 15 minutes I liked Joe as much as Johnny. It's strange, Johnny delivers a kind of refined Keith and Joe delivers a raunchier Keef. I imagined Mr Richards was talking to me either way. I hope Keith himself does as well!! Of special interest to me is guitar playing and recording and though I'm only up to the Exile period at this point, what I got so far was so great I'm giving it 5 stars.

keif

too bad Johnny Depp did not narrate the entire book drug taking details too graphic....loved it otherwise.

Fantastic!! Hours of entertainment!

I don't understand all of the stupid rants about Joe Hurley!! He did a fantastic job narrating his part of the book. I thought his character voices were great, and he wasn't monotone like Johnny Depp. Depp was a great narrator, but Hurley sounded more like Keith Richard's would, so it pulled me into it more than Depp's voice did. I loved the chapters about Richards finding his open G tuning style, and hearing about his crazy experience working with Chuck Berry! Great book!!!

Excellent!

Loved it!! Great storytelling from Keith Richards and awesome narration by Johnny Depp and the man himself. Touched.