Keith Richards’ 15 favourite songs
Keith Richards stands as the enduring symbol of rock ‘n’ roll—both unstoppable and enigmatic. Masterfully embodying the rock star persona, he’s the ultimate guitar-slinger, swaggering up to the amp with a spill of Jack Daniels in hand before unleashing riffs that electrify the crowd. This powerful image catapulted Richards and The Rolling Stones into rock’s highest echelons and has continued to anchor them there.
However, as the guitarist would attest to himself, The Rolling Stones may have become rock heroes, but they were certainly standing on the shoulders of giants. More so than any other band, the Stones were happy to give credit to the bands that had shaped them, the groups that guided them, and the artists who inspired them to become giants in their own right. In 2015, Keith Richards laid out 15 songs that shaped his life, and it works as a perfect playlist.
Shared as part of Mojo’s feature with the guitarist, a time when he was releasing his solo album Crosseyed Heart and was not quite being as rightly revered as he should, Richards picked out 15 songs that inspired his meteoric rise to prominence. If one guitarist is the most prominent member of the rock and roll set, then it’s certainly ol’ Keef.
Richards’ complete list of picks provides a stellar playlist—a true masterclass in R&B guitar for any newcomer. As a dedicated blues enthusiast, it’s no surprise he’s chosen some of the genre’s most iconic players, many of whom he’s praised over the years. For budding guitarists, this is a lineup worth studying closely.
Naturally, one of the top names on Richards’ list—though it may not have been his first—was Chuck Berry. Known for his duck-walking genius, Berry has inspired a vast array of acts, from The Beatles and The Kinks to, unsurprisingly, The Rolling Stones themselves. Richards selected ‘Little Queenie’, a track that The Stones would later cover.
Speaking about Berry’s performance on Jazz on a Summer’s Day, Richards said: “Chuck took them all by storm and played against their animosity. To me, that’s blues. That’s the attitude and the guts it takes. That’s what I wanted to be, except I was white.”
“I listened to every lick he played and picked it up,” he added. “Chuck got it from T-Bone Walker, and I got it from Chuck, Muddy Waters, Elmore James and BB King. We’re all part of this family that goes back thousands of years. Really, we’re all passing it on.” Berry’s influence on The Rolling Stones goes right back to the band’s origins. A chance meeting between old school friends Mick Jagger and Keith Richards gained extra significance when Richards noticed the Chuck Berry records Jagger was holding.
From there, of course, Richards couldn’t possibly leave out Muddy Waters, whose track ‘Rollin’ Stone’ not only inspired the band’s name but also heavily influenced Richards’ distinctive playing style.
In 1981, The Rolling Stones shared the stage with the icon, a time Richards remembers with glee: “You want to be a blues player, the next minute you fucking well are, and you’re stuck right amongst them, and there’s Muddy Waters standing next to you,” he said. “It happens so fast you really can’t register all of the impressions that are coming at you… It’s one thing to play a Muddy Waters song. It’s another thing to play with him.”
Naturally, Little Richard makes the list as well, with ‘Lucille’ selected to showcase the essence of rock ‘n’ roll’s roots. Richards rounds out his team of guitar legends with tributes to Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy (whom Richards has performed alongside), The Coasters, and Fats Domino. It’s a lineup that firmly cements Richards’ status as the quintessential modern bluesman.
The playlist below provides access to a wealth of well-known musicians and countless chances for further investigation. Without a doubt, Keith Richards was greatly influenced by these musicians, which motivated him to lead The Rolling Stones and make the group a legend in the history of music.
