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Rolling Stones quotes: Keith Richards on the band’s shows (1994)
In 1994, as critics sharpened their knives and mocked the Rolling Stones as a nostalgia act, Keith Richards fired back the only way he knows how: loud, defiant, and brutally honest. His words cut through the noise, turning age into a badge of honor and live performance into a matter of survival. This wasn’t about charts or trends—it was about stamina, pride, and the unkillable spirit of a band that refused to slow down. Richards’ quote captures the Stones at their most combative, still swinging night after night, daring anyone to count them out and proving that rock and roll doesn’t retire—it endures.
“On any given night, we’re still a damn good band. And on some nights, maybe even the best band in the world. So screw the press and their slagging about the Geritol Tour. You assholes. Wait until you get our age and see how you run. I got news for you, we’re still a bunch of tough bastards. Strings us up and we still won’t die.”
In 1994, amid a media frenzy that mocked their age and questioned their relevance, Keith Richards reminded the world exactly who The Rolling Stones were—and still are. Shrugging off the condescending term “Geritol Tour,” Richards shot back with typical swagger: “Wait until you get our age and see how you run.” Far from washed up, the band was delivering night after night, fueled by decades of grit, passion, and pure rock ‘n’ roll fire. Keith didn’t just defend their legacy—he challenged the critics to keep up. “On any given night, we’re still a damn good band,” he said. “And on some nights, maybe even the best band in the world.” That kind of confidence doesn’t come from nostalgia; it comes from experience, scars, and a whole lot of stage time. These weren’t rock stars clinging to the past—they were still writing it, one blistering setlist at a time.
The Unkillable Stones
By the mid-‘90s, The Rolling Stones had nothing left to prove—yet they never let up. Richards’ blunt declaration, “We’re still a bunch of tough bastards,” perfectly captured the band’s refusal to fade quietly. Critics could sneer, but the Stones were busy packing stadiums and outplaying bands half their age. “String us up and we still won’t die,” Keith growled, not just as a metaphor but as a mission statement. That raw defiance, that stubborn endurance, was exactly why fans kept showing up. The Rolling Stones weren’t simply a band with a past—they were a band with presence. And as Richards made clear, they weren’t going anywhere without a fight.
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