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 story

Keith Richards life story is a great listen. Learning about the Rolling Stones was great.

Loved every minute!

I could just keep listening to Keith's tales forever. This book was awesome! It's a little confusing when Johnny D switches to Joe Hurley without warning but they both do an amazing job ... especially Joe.

What just happened?!

This had to be the oddest audiobook I've ever listened to! I enjoyed listening to the first two chapters with Johnny Depp, but then suddenly and inexplicably Johnny is gone and someone else is now reading and doing a very bad Keith Richards impersonation at that! Then, just as I'm getting used to the bad Keith impersonation, Johnny is back again for a chapter and a half before he turns it over to Keith himself!?! The stories were great and insightful if you can believe that he actually remembers them in that much detail. But my disappointment was in the production of the audiobook specifically.

Pretty much what I had expected.

He loves music, he was an addict. Yep, just what I thought. It was interesting to hear some of the detailed stories of Richards' life, but towards the end, I just wanted him to get on with it already. My heart went out to the children, because they were born into the madness without a choice. Very selfish to share that with someone who can't be in charge of their own decisions, so I found myself being judgemental because of that.

Amazing when Richards talks about music

Keith Richards is really amazing taking about music -- learning to play guitar as a kid, holing himself up with the rest of the Stones perfecting their craft in the early 60s, the joy he gets playing with a great musician, what he thinks is wrong with digital mastering. The writing is clear and straightforward and his passion and awe for music are obvious. But there were whole stretches of the book that were just annoying. I know he's a rich and famous rock star, but after all his protestations that he's not in it for the money, there was a lot of gratuitous reveling in all the things that money can buy (mansions, villas, access to private islands, private jets, private doctors, fancy lawyers). I also found his constant refrain that he was persecuted for his drug use just because he's famous to be absurd. Dude, it's called the War on Drugs. It's really not all about you.
I was also kind of perplexed by the multiple narrators. I though Johnny Depp did a great job, very laconic, and that Joe Hurley was overly dramatic. He seemed to be trying to do a Keith Richards impersonation (with the bad-boy, rum-drenched voice) that was completely over the top compared to the actual Richards (who did kind of slur his words, but more like an old man than someone who was high).

Fascinating look inside the mind of a legend

The narrators were all very fitting, and I loved the entire story except the end which seemed so abrupt, and an almost random set of experiences that were shared/presented.

Always liked but now love

Always liked Keith Richards and The Rolling Stones. Bought the book but never read.LOVED the audible version and now adore Keith Richards. What a fantastic book! Must listen, must read.

didn't finish

book needs to be re sent. stopped playing 3/4 thtough. other than its great . thanks

Great Book, Bizarre Narration.

This is a good book, but 3 narrators in one book (even good ones) is a bit of a bust for me.

Johnny Depp does a (pretty) good job at giving you the feel of Keith's way of speaking, and just as you're falling into it they switch it to Joe Hurley. Joe also does a good job but it takes a bit to readjust to his way of narrating Keith. Then Keith himself makes an appearance in the narration as well.

It makes you wonder what the story behind the scenes was on the different narrators.

But the book is great. I really liked seeing the Stone's through Keith's eyes and the adventures/misadventures of his life.

fantastic story. fantastic narration.

I can't wait to listen to it again! What a life! [and I can listen to Johnny Depp all day long]