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Rolling Stones quotes: Keith Richards on going solo (1987)
KEITH RICHARDS TAKES THE LEAD Keith Richards never aimed to go solo or break up the Stones, but when Mick Jagger dove into his own project, Keith decided to take matters into his own hands. Teaming up with a new batch of talented musicians, he turned the moment into a creative spark. What started as a side project quickly became an eye-opening, energizing experience—showing that sometimes the best inspiration comes when you make your own move.
“The last thing I ever wanted to do was to break this band up and equally the last thing I had ever wanted to do was to go and think about doing my own solo stuff, but Mick did me a favour without knowing it, because it meant that I got together with a new bunch of musicians, and that was an enlightenment to me. That was simply because I had to do something. I got forced into it because I couldn’t sit around and wait for Mick to finish his album…
…And although I had no intention of going out to create a new band, various things fell into place, and during that period I got to work with some other great musicians, an incredible ensemble of musicians who just arrived. I began to write with Steve Jordan and the likes of Charley Drayton,Ivan Neville and Waddy Wachtel, which became the X-Pensive Winos, with Steve and Charley Drayton sharing bass and drum duties, Ivan on keyboards and Waddy playing guitar, and which was probably one of the best rock & roll bands in the world – a great band, very much like the early Stones.”
Keith Richards never planned to break up The Rolling Stones or pursue a solo career. Yet, when Mick Jagger focused on his own album, Keith found himself compelled to take action rather than wait. This unexpected push led him to collaborate with a fresh group of talented musicians, sparking an enlightening experience.
Though forming a new band wasn’t the goal, everything seemed to align perfectly. Keith teamed up with Steve Jordan, Charlie Drayton, Ivan Neville, and Waddy Wachtel, creating the X-Pensive Winos. With Steve and Charlie handling bass and drums, Ivan on keyboards, and Waddy on guitar, this ensemble captured a raw energy reminiscent of The Stones’ early days. What started as necessity soon became one of the best rock & roll bands in the world, showing Keith’s ability to reinvent while staying true to his roots.
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