Keith Richards, the legendary guitarist of The Rolling Stones, has never been one to sugarcoat his opinions. While the 1960s were a golden age of rock, not everyone impressed him — and that includes some of the most beloved names in music history.
Richards believed rock ‘n’ roll was supposed to be raw, real, and full of spirit — not overproduced, overhyped, or emotionally hollow. That meant even legendary artists weren’t safe from his sharp tongue if he felt they’d lost their way. Below are five bands or artists from the ’60s that Keith publicly criticized, with his signature mix of honesty and edge.
1.
The Beatles
Richards respected The Beatles’ impact, but he had no love for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. “A mishmash of rubbish,” he once called it. To him, the album focused too much on studio tricks and not enough on soul. While fans hailed it as a masterpiece, Keith thought it was a step too far from real rock ‘n’ roll.
“There’s not a lot of roots in that music. I prefer their earlier stuff, when they were The Beatles who played in clubs.”
2.
Bob Dylan
Richards admired Dylan’s poetic talent — no question. But he didn’t appreciate Dylan’s habit of bragging. After Dylan once said he could’ve written “Satisfaction” but Richards couldn’t write Desolation Row, Keith fired back. He found Dylan’s attitude pompous and tiring.
“You don’t say things like that if you really respect the music.”
3.
The Band
Although The Band was widely respected by musicians (including Dylan himself), Richards felt something was missing. He thought their live shows were too polished — too close to the records.
“It was like listening to the album — note for note. Where’s the excitement in that?”
Keith wanted rock to feel alive and unpredictable. For him, perfect replication on stage was a missed opportunity to inject real fire into the music.
4.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
At first, Richards liked CCR’s swampy, roots-driven sound. But as time went on, he lost interest. He felt the band stayed in their comfort zone and didn’t evolve creatively.
“They started sounding the same. Great start, but no growth.”
In Keith’s world, standing still was the same as falling behind.
5.
The Bee Gees
Perhaps his harshest criticism was saved for The Bee Gees. Richards never took them seriously — not in the ’60s, and especially not during their disco-era dominance. He accused them of being childish and out of touch with the gritty heart of rock.
“They were like kids in a fantasy world — no idea what real music was about.”
To Richards, The Bee Gees weren’t part of the same conversation. They may have been stars, but not in the way he respected.
What This Tells Us About Keith Richards
Love him or hate him, Keith Richards has always lived by one rule: keep it real. He doesn’t care if a record sells millions or tops critics’ lists — if it doesn’t feel honest or daring, he’s not impressed. His critiques weren’t about jealousy or competition; they came from a deep belief that music should shake your soul, not just your hips.
So when Keith takes aim, he’s not trying to tear people down. He’s reminding us what rock ‘n’ roll was always meant to be: raw, real, and alive.
