All in all, he seems pretty satisfied
Here’s Keith Richards, distilled: iconic survivor, Mick Jagger foil, rhythm-guitar legend, Captain Jack Sparrow inspiration, co-author of some of the greatest songs in rock ‘n’ roll, and the proud (if occasionally incomprehensible) owner of one of the genre’s greatest speaking voices – a whiskey-soaked, smoke-cured, guttural slur.
Richards, 64, is calling to discuss Martin Scorsese‘s “Shine a Light,” the new Rolling Stones concert documentary filmed at New York’s Beacon Theatre in 2006.
Q: Let’s talk about your image.
A: What is that?
Q: As this lovable rock `n’ roll rapscallion who has nine lives and sort of exists in another, more nomadic dimension.
A: A lot of it is probably true, and a lot of it is a bit of fantasy. I’m still trying to grow up, man. It’s all still an amazing adventure to me, the whole thing. Wow.
Q: How do you feel when you see the younger version of yourself in the vintage footage that’s used in “Shine a Light”?
A: I say: “What a pretty boy. And he’s still here!” (Laughs.) I don’t believe I dragged it out this far, but there it is. I’m doomed to live.
Q: When you’re at home, do you put on fuzzy slippers, grab some ice cream and curl up on the couch to watch Oprah Winfrey?
A: I’ll give you the couch, but I won’t give you the Oprah. I was just watching the history of fertilizer, actually.
Q: Are there things you do that would surprise people?
A: Well, I don’t know. I mean, I got me dogs, me kids. I go out and garden occasionally, depending on the time of year. Everybody lives, man. It’s the same old life however you look at it.
Q: What do you think about when you’re onstage?
A: I’m watching my fingers and some of the prettiest girls in the front row and I’m checking (drummer) Charlie Watts‘ beat and trying to make it fly. That’s it. You have to let it flow. You turn the mind off, really. I’m not thinking. At all. It’s an elevation. A levitation.
Q: So you’re never up there thinking: “Damn, I really want to be somewhere else”?
A: Oh, no. I’d rather be there longer. (Laughs.)
The birthday bunch
Country singer Merle Haggard is 71. Actor Billy Dee Williams is 71. Actor Roy Thinnes is 70. Actor John Ratzenberger (“Cheers”) is 61. Actress Marilu Henner is 56. Actor Paul Rudd is 39. Actor Zach Braff (“Scrubs”) is 33. Actress Candace Cameron Bure (“Full House”) is 32.