Keith Richards: The Guitarist With Arthritis

Keith Richards, one of the world’s most prolific guitarists, has revealed how he had to “evolve” and adapt his playing after being struck down by arthritis, a common disease that left his hands feeling “knobby.”

The association between Keith Richards and guitars is immediate, as is that between Keith Richards and Rolling Stonesof which the 80-year-old guitarist is the sound architect. Their pairing is perfect for the band’s music.

Richards is one of the original members of the group, led by the unmistakable voice and energy of Mick Jagger – as well as a writing partner – who has an enormous and long-lasting popularity, thanks to a musical path that includes among its many stages successes such as “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (July 1965), “Ruby Tuesday” (March 1967) and “Honky Tonk Women” (August 1969) and many others in the following decades. All songs in which Keith is the protagonist.

After a nearly two-decade hiatus from producing original content, the Rolling Stones have made their long-awaited return, releasing late last year “Hackney Diamonds”, the 24th studio album.

The album was followed by a world tour with which the band has once again amazed and gained global acclaim from the public. This success has never lacked the guitarist’s technical ability, despite having developed a form of arthritis that severely limits the way he plays the guitar.

Arthritis is a common disease that causes pain and swelling due to inflammation in the joints; it is very common in the world and even children and teenagers suffer from it. This disease has forced Richards, one of the most famous and iconic guitarists in the world, to change his “style” and the way he usually plays chords.

While acknowledging that his condition has affected his playing somewhat, Richards recently told the BBC: “I don’t have any pain, it’s a kind of benign version. I think if I’ve slowed down a bit, it’s probably more to do with age.”

He continued: “Also, I found it interesting that when I say: ‘I can’t do it anymore,’ the guitar shows me another way to do it. A finger is placed in a different space and a completely new door opens. And so – concludes the guitarist – you always learn. You never stop studying”.

According to rock legend, Jagger and Richards first met at primary school in Kent in the 1950s. The two met again by chance years later on a railway platform.

While Jagger carried records, Richards had a guitar, their shared passion sparked a conversation about music while they were traveling on a train. Their chance meeting set them on the right path, leading to the birth of one of rock’s greatest songwriting partnerships. Their recording career began with the self-titled album released in 1964, a collection of covers of R&B and R’n’R classics, plus three original songs.