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 working ‘under the influence’

“When I listen to what I did under the influence – 10 years of work – I don’t think it either enhanced or impaired me. It didn’t have that much to do with it.”

*Click for MORE ROLLING STONES QUOTES THROUGH THE YEARS

The Unlikely Survivor: Keith Richards’ Secret Strength

When you look at Keith Richards, it’s hard to imagine he’s still alive given his legendary lifestyle. Addiction expert Dr. Robert Lefever, who directs the Promis Recovery Centre in Richards’ hometown of Kent, sums it up bluntly: “He must have the constitution of an ox.” Richards has famously consumed staggering amounts of drugs over decades, from cocaine to heroin and LSD, pushing the limits of what most would survive. Yet his memoir, Life, reveals a man who exercised a surprising degree of control amid the chaos. Far from a reckless junkie, Richards was “meticulous about how much I took,” believing his body was his temple—a rare perspective in his wild world.

The Myth and the Man Behind the Legend

Richards’ public image as a hellraiser only scratches the surface. His autobiography recounts drug-fueled escapades like walking Oxford Street with hash “as big as a skateboard” and mistaking police for dwarves during a psychedelic haze. But beyond the drugs and rock ‘n’ roll excess lies a man with intellectual passions—an antique book collector who once organized his vast home library by the Dewey Decimal System. His wealth granted him access to purer substances, and while he indulged heavily, he never chased a higher high, avoiding the greed that consumes many addicts.

Survival Against the Odds

Experts warn Richards’ survival is no guarantee for others. Dr. Lefever stresses that for every Keith Richards, countless others have died young due to substance abuse. Music journalist David Quantick highlights the tragic fates of Richards’ peers, like Gram Parsons and Brian Jones, as evidence Richards is uniquely resilient. “It’s almost as though others die so that Keith Richards may live,” he says. But even so, Richards’ rough exterior—a face “like a prune’s wallet”—hardly makes him a role model, though his story remains a testament to endurance in the face of chaos.

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!

COPYRIGHT © ROLLING STONES DATA
ALL INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE IS COPYRIGHT OF ROLLING STONES DATA. ALL CONTENT BY MARCELO SONAGLIONI.
ALL SETLISTS AND TICKET STUBS TAKEN FROM THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THE ROLLING STONES. 
WHEN USING INFORMATION FROM ROLLING STONES DATA (ONLINE OR PRINTED) PLEASE REFER TO ITS SOURCE DETAILING THE WEBSITE NAME. THANK YOU.