It’s nearly impossible for artists to keep up with everything new happening in the music world. Touring and recording take a serious toll, especially when musicians are trying to make a living. It’s no surprise that they don’t have time to keep track of every new act coming up. Even Keith Richards, despite having his go-to favorites, admits there are certain albums he wouldn’t listen to—no matter how much you paid him.
Interestingly, even some Rolling Stones records probably don’t get much play on Richards’s personal playlist. He’s always been open about the periods in the band’s history he loved most, and although he’s still known for cranking out classic riffs, Richards would likely prefer to forget parts of the 1980s when things got overly polished and synthetic.
Despite the questionable fashion and glossy production of those years, the band always managed to find its footing again. Dirty Work might be a tough listen for fans who dislike flashy ’80s soundscapes, but albums like Voodoo Lounge brought back the gritty magic that originally made the Stones feel dangerous and irresistible.
But the heart of the Stones has always revolved around the complicated chemistry between Richards and Mick Jagger. They wouldn’t be rock legends without each other. Still, Richards would’ve been happy playing his bluesy rock and country tunes forever. For him, staying true to that sound meant everything.
Hit-making, though, often requires change—and that’s where Jagger came in. He was always tuned into current trends, which sometimes produced fresh ideas like “Miss You.” Yet, when the band flirted with disco or when Jagger went solo to chase what was popular, Richards wasn’t impressed.
Though Richards also released solo albums, he claimed his efforts were just to fill the gap when Jagger wasn’t working with the band. As he once said, “I only did my records because [Mick] wasn’t working with us. [His solo work] had something to do with ego. He really had nothing to say… I never heard them. I’ll leave it at that.” For Richards, making music was never about fame or making statements.
In his view, Jagger’s solo work felt unnecessary—many of those songs could’ve been Rolling Stones tracks. So it seemed like Jagger was leaving the band behind to chase trends on his own.
In hindsight, Richards may have been right to steer clear. Looking back, some of Jagger’s solo ventures, like the infamous duet with David Bowie on “Dancing in the Street,” might make you thankful that one of rock’s most iconic guitarists chose to sit that one out.
