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Rolling Stones quotes: Keith Richards on the differences in playing with Taylor, Jones and Wood
KEITH & RONNIE: GUITAR BUDDIES FOR LIFE Keith Richards swears it’s all about chemistry, not chops—and he found his perfect match in Ronnie Wood. These two read each other like open tabs: if Ronnie fumbles, Keith slides in without missing a beat. No ego, just pure groove, instinct, and telepathy. Their styles mesh so perfectly it’s like they share one guitar brain. Mick Taylor’s awesome, sure—but with Ronnie, it’s always felt right. Pure magic onstage.
“It was much harder to get a Rolling Stones sound with Mick Taylor. It was much more lead and rhythm, one way or the other. As fabulous as he is as a lead guitarist, he wasn’t a great rhythm player, so we ended up taking roles. When Brian and I started, it was never like that. It’s much easier than with Brian, personally…
…But also with Ron, the basic way we play is much more similar, and this isn’t in any way to knock Mick. I mean, he’s a fantastic guitar player. But even if he couldn’t play shit, I’d love the guy. But chemically we didn’t have that flexibility in the band. It was, ‘You do this, and I’ll do that, and never the twain shall meet’. With Ron, if he drops his pick, then I can play his lick until he picks it up, and you can’t even tell the difference.”
The Telepathy of Two Guitars: Keith and Ronnie’s Natural Flow
For Keith Richards, the magic of a great guitar partnership lies in chemistry—not just skill. That’s exactly what he found in Ronnie Wood. Their connection was instinctive, almost telepathic. If Ronnie drops his pick mid-song, Keith can slip into the groove and take over seamlessly—audiences wouldn’t even notice. That’s the kind of fluid, flexible relationship they share onstage. It’s not about rigid roles or musical ego; it’s about listening and flowing together. Richards even says that their playing styles are so similar, they practically speak the same guitar language. And while he makes it clear that he respects Mick Taylor’s ability—calling him “a fantastic guitar player”—he also notes that the magic of playing with someone doesn’t always come down to technical skill. It’s about feel. And with Ronnie, it’s always felt right. It’s a classic case of the right player at the right time, with the right vibe.
Taylor’s Precision vs. Brian’s Chaos
Mick Taylor, for all his brilliance, brought a more segmented approach to the Stones. Richards describes their dynamic as a clear divide: lead vs. rhythm, with little blending in between. Taylor’s rhythm work wasn’t his strength, so the two fell into strict musical roles. It worked, but it wasn’t organic. In contrast, Keith remembers playing with Brian Jones as looser, less structured—even if Brian was a wilder presence offstage. That early period, while more chaotic, gave the Stones their raw, shapeshifting identity. Each guitarist brought something unique—but for Keith, the easiest, most natural fit has always been Ronnie, where the lines blur, the licks intertwine, and the groove never stops.
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