Keith Richards shares two difficult to work with musicians and says he ‘has more experience than most’ with strained collaborations

Keith Richards has claimed only one project would be tougher than the experience he had working with two music legends.

The Rolling Stones‘ guitarist believes he has worked with his fair share of tough talents, praising both veteran musicians while also noting how tricky they were to get along with in the studio. Richards, reflecting on his time both in the legendary rock group and as a solo artist, suggested much of his work with Mick Jagger had been a strain. The Rolling Stones would break up due, at least in part, to creative differences within the band in the 1980s. The group did get back together and has remained relatively active, releasing their most recent album at time of writing, Hackney Diamonds, in 2023.

The Rolling Stones guitarist is no stranger to collaboration, working with Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood for decades, along with brief encounters throughout his career. Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, and Marianne Faithfull have all enlisted Woods’ skill for the stage and studio in the past.

In an interview clip posted to YouTube, Richards’ time in the studio and stage was mused on by the Paint it Black songwriter.

Though the two legends mentioned by Richards have gone on to cement their place in rock history, it does not make them any less tricky to sit down in the studio with. Richards said: “I’m used to working with difficult people, I worked with Mick Jagger and Chuck Berry. I have more experience working with difficult people than most.

“And also I thought well if I can handle that, then only the idea of making God’s first album would be maybe more difficult.” Fans of Richards praised his dedication to in-studio work, but caught out The Rolling Stones’ guitarist, who got the riffs to a Berry track wrong.

One user commented: “The irony here is that Keith sets up the movie by saying that Chuck Berry has been misunderstood and taken for granted. Then Keith goes out and plays the intro wrong. Chuck catches him doing it, and Keith complains that Chuck is being ‘difficult.’ Chuck was right. The bend at the end of that phrase DOES start on the highest point. It goes “up down up down”. Keith had been playing it “down up down up”. Too funny!”

Another added: “Such an intelligent and classy guy, I wish I’d followed him more, earlier, but it’s so great to see how he shares his humour now and is such a great guitarist. So graceful.”

The guitar legend has since been dubbed “criminally underrated” by fans of The Rolling Stones, who say Richards’ work is not given enough credit. A Reddit post sharing fan thoughts on Richards’ work saw many compliment the guitarist.

A fan wrote: “Keith Richards’ lead playing is criminally underrated. He may not be as technically gifted on guitar as Mick Taylor but Christ, that 1968/69 period where he played all the guitar is some of the greatest, most fitting guitar playing in the history of rock and roll. Jesus his solo in Wild Horses is beautiful beyond belief.”