Like what you see? Help keep it going! This site runs on the support of readers like you. Your donation helps cover costs and keeps fresh Rolling Stones content coming your way every day. Thank you!
Rolling Stones Quotes: Keith Richards on living in a bad neighborhood when he was young
“I moved into a tough neighborhood when I was about 10. I used to be with Mick before that… we used to live close together. Then I moved to what they’d call in the States a housing project. Just been built. Thousands and thousands of houses, everyone wondering what the fuck was going on. Everyone was displaced…”
Living in a bad neighborhood, but then… Ah, Keith Richards’ childhood years—pure sweetness and light, right? Well, not exactly. Born in 1943 in Dartford, England, Keith’s early life was far from the picture-perfect, idyllic childhood you’d expect from a future rock ‘n’ roll icon. Far from being a choirboy, young Keith was already setting the stage for a life full of chaos and mischief.
As a kid, he wasn’t exactly hanging out with a bunch of angels. Instead of playing cricket and hanging out at the local youth club, he was busy developing a love for music, especially blues, which was pretty much his first love. His dad, who was a factory worker, wasn’t exactly thrilled with Keith’s obsession with guitars, but did that stop him? Of course not. Keith was all about his guitars and records, and school? Well, let’s just say it wasn’t his thing. He wasn’t winning any academic awards, that’s for sure. But hey, who needs to know math when you’re destined to change the face of rock music forever?
And let’s not forget his neighborhood. It wasn’t exactly the safest place to grow up. Dartford wasn’t known for its peaceful streets, and Keith was definitely no stranger to trouble. By his teens, he was already pushing boundaries, experimenting with music and mischief, a precursor to his future wild side. The idea of growing up in a wholesome, quiet environment was about as foreign to him as settling down with a cup of tea.
So, while other kids might have been playing soccer or reading books, Keith was figuring out how to break the rules, setting the foundation for the guitar god he would soon become. His childhood? Definitely a rock ‘n’ roll origin story in the making.
Like what you see? Help keep it going! This site runs on the support of readers like you. Your donation helps cover costs and keeps fresh Rolling Stones content coming your way every day. Thank you!
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here:
Cookie Policy
Subscribe to the Stones Data newsletter and get all daily posts delivered to you for free. Everybody got to go! *Support the site and help me keep sharing great content. Thanks in advance!
