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Rolling Stones Quotes: Keith Richards on being a musician
“You don’t start to play your guitar thinking you’re going to be running an organisation that will maybe generate millions.”
When Keith Richards first picked up a guitar, he wasn’t dreaming of boardrooms, logos, or a global brand worth millions. His fingers were chasing sound, not success. Like many musicians, the journey began in the most honest, raw way possible—playing for the sheer love of it. Richards, ever candid and grounded, has often reminded us that music, at its core, isn’t about fame or fortune. “You don’t start to play your guitar thinking you’re going to be running an organisation that will maybe generate millions,” he said, summing up the difference between intention and outcome. What started with strumming chords in a small room eventually transformed into The Rolling Stones—one of the most powerful, profitable, and influential rock acts in history.
From Chords to Corporations
Richards’ words echo a truth many fans forget: the Stones were never supposed to become a brand. Their evolution into a massive cultural institution—complete with merchandise, tours, and endless media attention—wasn’t planned. It simply happened. But Keith never lost sight of the roots. While the world saw record-breaking tours and platinum albums, he saw strings, frets, and soul. For him, music was never about building an empire—it was about the feeling you get from a great riff, the energy of a raw performance, and the bond between bandmates. He stayed true to that original spark, even as the machine around him grew bigger. Fame expanded, but his passion stayed rooted in pure musical instinct and honesty, never swayed by trends or commercial pressures, always chasing the groove, the feeling, and the raw, unfiltered connection that started it all.
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