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)

an amazing Life

I could listen to some of these stories again and again, they are enormously entertaining and reveal Richards as a sincere individual, devoted first and foremost to his music, his mates and his family. Listening to the behind the scenes realities of events that led to some of the most culturally exciting moments in rock and roll, is worth the listen alone. Richards reveals much from his early life and career and his consistent devotion to blues and roots music serves as a touch stone through out this charmed life. You will never listen to a Stones song in the same way- it will become richer with knowing the moments that surrounded that songs creation and recording. I am now even more aware of the astonishing talents that created a rock and roll legend having shared the personal highs and lows of an amazing life.

A must-listen for any rock fan!

Loved it. Keith Richards' story is classic and enthralling. His observations and memories are amazing.

I was really loving this, until...

... about three-quarters' into the book, Richards describes fishing in a Native American lake (where he wasn't supposed to be fishing) and catching and killing an ancient turtle. I just couldn't listen to anymore. It's strange how I could listen to his philandering, drugging, the death of his child (SIDS) but couldn't put up with trespassing on Native American territory and destroying wildlife.

The performances are fantastic, just brilliant.

Not a Rolling Stones Fan, but I adored this book.

First. Keith Richards is a deceptively smart man. Second, he's lived, and remembers in amazing detail stories about his life, he blends experiences, with memory and music and tells the story of how he lived, how he composed, and what he thinks about it now. Third, it is read by Depp. Who, despite his shortcomings, is brilliant. Fourth, Richards gives us a very simple philosophy, the day he quit heroin he said, "Tomorrow is Today."

Perfect book.

one of my heroes

often in life I've run into people who have the basic template that my personality is built on. I always thought KR was ine of those and this book has proved it to me.

Hard to listen to at times

This book was difficult to listen to at times. The narrator's word soften were not enunciated and came off monotone. I tend to prefer biographies, but this book, at least in audio format, was a disappointment.

Great stories, well read.

If I had a single story about the time I spent with Keith Richards, it would be my best story. It seems like Keith Richards is in nearly every one of this author’s stories and they’re all great. It gave me a whole new appreciation of The Stones and the music that has inspired him throughout his life. I can’t wait for part two!

Great Read!

I'm not a big Rolling Stones fan but I enjoyed this book immensely. Depp does s great job.

Decadence Rock and Roll and an Icon

It’s a fantastic book, I love The Stones and if you are a fan , or not this is a brilliant book! I do love Johnny Depps narration , the other guy was good but I would have been cool with only Johnny reading . It’s great I highly recommend it !

real rock and roll life story but a guy my age.

Loved it and miss those days myself, but I was a Caribbean sailor and just passing thru parts of his life and mine. Read by a great actor and a another guy with a Cockney accent that put the story in context, not an Eton/Oxford toff.