“When it all came together”: The artist Keith Richards said made the greatest rock and roll
Some artists possess such a deep-rooted influence in society and culture that it’s difficult to imagine them ever looking up to anybody else. While Keith Richards undeniably changed the course of rock and roll in The Rolling Stones alongside Mick Jagger, there remains one definitive figure who, once they stepped out in front of a young Richards, changed his trajectory forever.
Richards has always seemed so robust in his brand of rock ‘n’ roll that it’s strange to think of a time before he started parading the stage, performing songs about rebellion and the grittiness of a life well lived. It wasn’t just the music that embodied rock ‘n’ roll; it was Richards’ general aloof attitude and ability to give it his all without giving anything else away.
However, though his views on broader influences remain relatively sparse, Richards has shared some of his musical passions on occasion. In a more general sense, he has always been a huge fan of traditional rock and blues, including names like Little Richard, Muddy Waters, Warren Zevon, Tom Waits, and more—many of which he revealed to Rolling Stone in 2008.
Considering Richards’ affinity with eclectic finesse, many of the names he wrote make complete sense. Even Zevon, known for his dark wit and often considered pacing, seems to align with Richards’ appreciation for depth and edge, even if Zevon’s quiet resignation sometimes makes it seem as though both musicians emerged from two completely different worlds.
Still, authentic rock ‘n’ roll will always make Richards’ ears prick up, especially if the music was made by someone who had an immense impact on him as a young, aspiring musician. Many of the artists he gained early exposure to occurred because of his mother, who would play music by artists like Louis Armstrong or Billie Holiday, who each brought their unique reimagining of what rock should look and feel like.
However, one figure who stands out as someone who made Richards realise the true nature rock ‘n’ roll was Chuck Berry. Discussing his love for the rocker with The Quietus, Richards reflected on the unique sparsity of finding people who actually represent the real deal, and named Berry as the only one who embodied this when he was growing up.
“It’s not something you can copy,” he explained, adding that rock ‘n’ roll means adopting “a sense of rhythm” that becomes particularly poignant when you “grow up with it.”
He continued: “Thanks to my mum I grew up with Louis Armstrong, Billie Holliday and then, of course, when Chuck Berry came along it was, ‘There it is!’ That’s when it all came together. And some of his records are still the best rock ‘n’ roll records ever made.”
Growing up, it makes sense why Richards would become endeared to a performer as electrifying and energetic as Berry. Not only that, but Berry captured the rebellious nature of rock ‘n’ roll that Richards adopted from day one, likely showing him that epitomising the feel of youth and freedom in authentic ways could get you far in rock because it’s what many resonated with and longed to feel closer to.
