Keith Richards: How arthritis changed his playing

This year the Rolling Stones were supposed to return to perform in the main European stadiums, also making a stop in Italy, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. But the plans of Mick Jagger and his associates, as revealed in December by the Sun, went up in smoke due to the condition of Keith Richards, who was unable to respect the “excruciating” schedule, prompting the band to inform the tour organizers of the impossibility of returning on the road. Now, three months after the news broke, Keith Richards breaks his silence. And he does so through an interview given to Guitar World magazine, the “Bible” of six-string enthusiasts, in which among other things he explains how at 82 he adapted his way of playing the guitar to live with arthritis.

The Rolling Stones guitarist confessed to playing fewer notes lately, because – he explained – “I’m not as fast as I used to be”. Yet Richards’ physical limitations also gave him a new perspective on his instrument:

At my age, the thing I find most interesting about the guitar is the ability to compensate for certain limitations and lack of agility by finding other ways to overcome obstacles. And it also teaches you something else: you never stop learning with this tool. I love her, and she is my forever companion.

Richards also described some of the changes he made to his guitar to make it easier to play despite his condition:

Well, I have arthritis and very large knuckles. They don’t hurt me, but sometimes they bother me. For this reason I am looking for a wider keyboard. Honestly, I look at my hands, and my hands look at me, and we’re like, ‘Well, let’s see what we can do today.’ And that’s how I play the guitar. I look at her and say, ‘We have nothing else to do. Come here. I love you!’.

The Rolling Stones’ last tour was in 2024, when Jagger and Co. crisscrossed North America to promote their 2023 album, “Hackney Diamonds.” Andrew Watt, their producer, confirmed last year that the band is working on new material, although he couldn’t reveal specific details.