Keith Richards Biography: Age, Net Worth, Children, Songs, Family

Keith Richards is one of rock music’s most recognizable figures: a guitarist, songwriter, and cultural icon whose riffs and rebellious image helped define the Rolling Stones and shaped modern rock ’n’ roll.

From a working-class upbringing in Dartford, England, to stadiums around the world, Richards’ life is a study in creativity, endurance, and musical innovation.

Early life and musical roots

Keith Richards was born on December 18, 1943, in Dartford, Kent, England. Raised during and after World War II, his early life was shaped by music—especially jazz and blues—largely introduced to him by his maternal grandfather, who gave him his first taste of the guitar. These early influences would later be a bedrock for Richards’ playing and songwriting approach.

Meeting Mick Jagger and the birth of the Stones

The meeting of Keith Richards and Mick Jagger at Dartford station in October 1961 is a famous rock origin story. Their friendship and musical chemistry blossomed quickly; together they joined Brian Jones and other local musicians to form the Rolling Stones, a band that would soon challenge and redefine popular music. Richards’ rhythm playing and Jagger’s voice and persona became a core dynamic that propelled the group.

Guitar style and musical innovations

Richards’ guitar style is distinctive—rooted in blues, R&B, and early rock but filtered through his own sense of rhythm, timing, and tone. He is renowned for creating memorable, riff-based parts that often carry entire songs. His use of open tunings (notably open G), chunky chord voicings, and his “weaving” interplay with the band’s other guitarists are hallmarks of his sound. Many of the Stones’ signature tracks feature Keith’s guitar at the core.

Songwriting partnership: Jagger–Richards

The Jagger–Richards songwriting partnership is one of the most productive in rock history. Starting in the early 1960s, the duo began penning songs that would become the core of the Rolling Stones’ catalog. Their collaboration combined Richards’ riff-driven musical ideas with Jagger’s lyrical sensibilities and stage persona—resulting in an astonishing run of singles and albums that redefined rock music.

Key records and career highlights

Across six decades, Richards and the Stones produced landmark albums including Aftermath, Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile on Main St. Richards’ playing and compositions feature on countless classics that influenced generations of guitarists and songwriters. Beyond the Stones, Keith released solo work and led side projects such as the X-Pensive Winos, showing his versatility and love for roots music.

Public image, controversies, and resilience

Richards’ image—“dangerous,” world-weary, and defiantly anti-establishment—was cemented by both his music and his widely publicized struggles with drugs and the law in the 1960s and 1970s. Despite arrests, trials, and sensational headlines, he continued to perform, record, and shape the Stones’ trajectory. Richards’ personal resilience is often described in terms of his “nine lives” — surviving accidents, health scares, and the extremes of a rock-and-roll lifestyle.

Personal life and interests

Keith Richards’ life offstage includes relationships (notably with Anita Pallenberg), fatherhood, and an enduring passion for books and history—he’s known to be an avid reader and collector. He has homes in several places, including long-term residence in Connecticut, USA. While his private life had its tragedies—he lost a daughter as an infant and has spoken openly about how grief affected him—he also found comfort and stability later with family life in the United States.

Later years and recognition

Into the 21st century, Richards has continued performing and recording with the Rolling Stones, occasionally releasing solo material. He’s been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of the Stones) and has received various honors recognizing his contribution to music. Even into his later years he remains a celebrated and influential figure in popular culture.

The legacy of Keith Richards

Keith Richards’ legacy is vast: as a guitarist who created some of rock’s most enduring riffs, as a co-writer of a major part of the Stones’ catalogue, and as a symbol of rock’s rebellious spirit. His approach to rhythm guitar—prioritizing groove and song over flashy solos—has influenced countless players. Above all, Richards embodies the idea that rock music can be at once primitive and sophisticated, rooted in American blues yet fully British in its swagger.

FAQs

When and where was Keith Richards born?

Keith Richards was born on December 18, 1943, in Dartford, Kent, England.

What is Keith Richards known for?

He’s best known as the guitarist and co-songwriter of the Rolling Stones, famous for iconic riffs, his partnership with Mick Jagger, and his influential rhythm-guitar style.

What are some songs Keith Richards wrote or co-wrote?

Examples include “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Paint It Black,” “Gimme Shelter,” and “Start Me Up.”

Has Keith Richards had health problems or accidents?

Richards has had several accidents and health scares—most notably a fall in 2006 that required cranial surgery—but has repeatedly returned to performing.

Is Keith Richards still performing?

As of the most recent public reports, Richards has continued to perform with the Rolling Stones and remain active in music.

Conclusion

Keith Richards is more than a guitarist—he’s a cultural force whose riffs, songwriting, and persona helped build rock music’s mythology. From Dartford to global stages, his life has been a long, tangled story of music, excess, heartbreak, and survival. Whether you admire him as a musical innovator, a survivor of rock excess, or a storyteller in guitar form, Richards’ imprint on music is indelible.