Life

By: Keith Richards, James Fox

Narrated by: Johnny Depp, Joe Hurley, Keith Richards

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.

Nothing Compares 2 U

What can be said about the incomparable Keith Richards..... so much detail, so man stories, so much life. Much is expected as his legendary life is incomparable and often discussed. However, many surprises and way beyond I did a ton of drugs and drank a lot and was an ass hole. No this one is beyond description in a short paragraph. Learn what a rock and roll star is and understand the difference between this guy (and the Stones) vs. all the others.

Great read.

I thought the 97 to 1 story was definitely not a good point in his life, but definitely a good story. Recommend this to anyone

Worst narration in over 200 books

Is this the same Johnny Depp that overacted his way to making Pirates a multi billion dollar industry? I had never had a Johnny Depp narration and was so excited. I don't know if a narrator could've made a book more boring. I was about to give up listening to it then he left, then he came back. I have no interest in listening to anything Johnny Depp narrates unless it is a book that ends with ... to help you go to sleep. An absolutely great story that I wish I would have read. In my opinion Depp ruined every section he did with his monotone, heroine chic, inflectionless narration. Great story. I hear the book is better.

Fantastic!

Keith is alot funnier than I expected. His humor is very dry and the story very detailed.

Listen for yourself and see if Keef bashes Mick

I've read 2 psuedo reviews from reviewers who obviously didn't read the book and assumed Keef bashes Mick throughout. Quite the contrary, Keef is honest about Mick's shortcomings but respects and honors his Glimmer Twin as having cared for him like a brother and tended to the band business when he could not himself. Read the book yourself and be your own judge.

Curious though, why Depp reads the first few chapters of the book then is replaced by the British voiceover of Joe Hurley? Freaked me out, the change in narrator voice. Anyone know the answer?

Excellent and exhausting

The bio is very comprehensive up until around 1987 then the details are a little thin but over all it's a great listen/read. Having three voice overs is odd, I loved Johnny and the man himself. Keith keeps nothing back and there are few great surprises and yet it's exhausting even thinking about some of the stories. I haven't read anything this crazy since Moon. If you love the Stones or Keith or have any feelings for the 60's and 70's you will enjoy this, Keith has lived a very fascinating life, or perhaps several.

Wild Life

I was born in the 60's so Keith was more my sister's style but this book was great. Johnny Depp and Joe Hurley (and Keith) did a fantastic job. Lots of props go to James Fox for pulling it all together, it had to be rough. Keith seems to ramble and jump a lot (probably all the drugs) and somehow Mr. Fox keeps it in order. The most amazing part is that Keith is still living to tell the tale. I am also shocked at how well his son seems to have turned out...what a tough life he had. Not that he knows the difference, normal is what you know. Anyway, great story, well told and well written. Loved every minute..

Bad sound

Volume levels fluctuate during listening creating the need to “ride the volume knob” in order to get a consistent listening experience.

Narration was confusing

Keith Richards has led a very interesting life to say the least and it is reflected here. My only issue with the book is the narration. Johnny Depp, I assume starts the narration and commands attention reading the narritive with an american accent while doing a great job doing other accents when people are quoted.
Then about 1/3 of the way through, he either changed his style completely or it was read the other narrator mentioned. This person had an English accent and did a great Keith Richards. With just the book on my ipod, I thought it was still Johnny Depp for a while. There were quite a few letters and quotes from other people but with this narrator it was hard to tell when they began and ended.
Then the last 1/3 of the book was back to Johnny Depp with an american accent. Keith Richards read a few sections himself at the end.

What a ride!

Never a dull moment--not even when he explains guitar riffs, and I don't play the guitar or understand much about the technical aspects of music-making. Stones fans will love the inside scoop on how certain songs were written, and this includes the debunking of quite a few mythical interpretations of lyrics.

Richards and his co-writer manage a huge amount of material brilliantly. The writing style is conversational, which perfectly suits the first-person account and its subject matter. I feel as if I know Keith Richards now, and for all his wildness, like the guy very much, thank you.

Johnny Depp does a fine enough job narrating his portion, but Joe Hurley is magnificent. Along with his expressiveness, he has a convincing accent and a similar throatiness in his voice as the author's, who also makes a brief appearance in the narration. Dig it!