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)

A firsthand look into Rockstar life

I feel that this account and stories are, even though in Keith's words (and who can write about themselves without some bias), give an accurate picture of his life and snapshots of The Stones career. I liked both narrators and Keith's words as well. It had good, bad and ugly. A great tale and worth the time.

Great Rock Story!

Well told chronicles from the lead guitarist of one of the world's greatest Rock Bands!

Keith Richards is SO much more than a rock icon!

I chose this book because I remembered hearing Keith talk about music. I was fascinated by what he said, so I figured the book would probably have some more interesting tidbits. I had no idea I was going to be learning about such a completely fascinating person! I have a huge new respect for both the man and the music! I can't recommend this book enough!

It's his life, the good and the bad!

Any additional comments?

This is an excellent autobiography. It's read perfectly and appropriately by Joe Hurley and Johhny Depp, who aim to sound like Keith might, and a little bit of Keith. He sounds drunk when reading, but I bet he sounds like that sober or not. He shares a lot about his ups and downs and comes across as very honest. It was interesting to hear about song-writing with Mic and about the times when they seemed to be finished together. Keith comes across as larger than I thought he was for the band. He is the John Lennon. Some people have commented to me about the time he spends on guitar playing and riffs, but I found that interesting even though I can't play a note. This book is much, much better than I expected and I hope he writes another.

Dope, Egos, Talent, Dope, Money, Fame, Dope, Power

I turned 15 a few weeks before Satisfaction was released in 1965 and while I was not an unconditional fan of the Stones, each and every significant tune of theirs has always brought special memories and feelings. 13 years ago when I was 48, I took up harmonica and quickly became good enough to play at a professional level. I cut my harp teeth on blues and rock and it is from my relatively new perspective as a musician that Life has special meaning.

Forgetting about the musical part of the story, Richards is one of the premier examples of how the combination of dope, talent, ego, fame, money and power work together. He has lead a fantasy life for most of us, but there remains plenty that all of us can relate to.

Interesting

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Sure, but they would have to be a huge music fan and particularly a fan of the Stones.

What did you like best about this story?

Setting the record straight about all kinds of stories you have heard.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Johnny Depp and Joe Hurley ?

Sure

Was Life worth the listening time?

So, so

Cudos

What a great book! I laughed and cried. God bless you, Keith Richards. You and the Stones are Rock and Roll icons.

rock history gold

I loved this audio book. It was as if Keef was in the room with you. Narration was outstanding and to have Keith finish the last portion of the book was extra special. After I finished the book i'm sure i went through withdrawal.

Great but I wish it was narrated by Keith!

The story is fantastic. Keith has lived a fascinating life and he's much smarter, introspective, and human than you'd think. Highly recommend!!!

My only issue is that the narration is uneven. I didn't like Johnny Depp's narration and when I finally got used to it, they switched it to Joe Hurley which was disruptive to me.

Other than that, great use of a credit!

Not quite as Dull as I expected

Keith Richards has always been an enigma as a rock star. Obviously talented but I figured him as a kid who learned four or five chords and happened to be in the right place at the right time. Nope. He spends the first chapters establishing his "bona-fides" as a lover of American blues & soul. He spends a great deal of time practically gloating about how great it was snorting pharmacuetical grade cocaine which apparently doesn't automatically come with a crash wishing you'd never snorted anything. (Perhaps it was only because he also revels in staying up as many days as possible on the stuff and then finally sleeping. He also gloats about mixing his own pure heroin and admits he spent 3/4 of his life as a junkie and much of the book is about how the cops were on his tail. In the meantime he gives serious insights into his relationship with Jagger, how songs are written and where some classic stones songs got their names. There is a LOT of name dropping as to the famous musicians he wrote and played with. I know it sounds boring and now that you know what it is likely might find it so. Still I bought it with a completely open mind and was surprised that Richards comes off as a fairly thoughtful individual and not some spoiled aging star with a soul as shallow as a puddle. No, the man and is his book are FAR more complex.