You would be mistaken to believe that Keith Richards is only focused on the six-string guitar he is holding. He is the chief riff writer for The Rolling Stones. The guitarist who composed the music for numerous decades was never as technically adept as his peers. Rather than following the natural rhythm and feel that most percussionists would be familiar with, he heavily leaned into the “roll” of rock and roll.
Richards’ passion for music went far beyond just playing the guitar, setting him apart from his bandmates Brian Jones, Mick Taylor, and Ronnie Wood and making him one of the most knowledgeable musos in pop music history. The mumbled speech and smeared smile are not deceptive. Richards understands music in a way that only mystics can. It implies that his assessment of every aspect of a band’s setup and production, including drummers, is valuable as gold.
Richards provided a list of some of his all-time favourite drummers during a 2003 discussion as part of his then-revolutionary Ask Keith series. It is only fitting that the performers are as diverse as possible, ranging from the jazz greats of the golden age to the person who would eventually succeed the late, great Charlie Watts in 2021.
Naturally, as with most of Richards’ actions, this cannot be regarded as his definitive list. In addition to the musician’s occasionally hazy memory, Richards would probably vary his tastes and preferences hour by hour. This is just like any other true music lover. There’s a good chance that this list would vary each time he was asked. His vast repertoire of sounds is far beyond anything that we mere mortals could ever imagine.
In 2003, the question posed to Richards was straightforward: which drummers are your favourites? With a characteristic drawl, he answered and gave a remarkable list of names. Richards signals to the top of the pile, “Drummers… aside from Charlie Watts, okay, we will put him there.” Although Watts is regarded by many as an underappreciated rock percussion master, the majority of his skills were actually picked up from jazz greats. Richards also suggests that it had a big impact on the other items on his list.
He goes on, “I can go back and back, George Wettling, it’s Steve Jordan, Charley Drayton, George Recile, Gene Krupa, Baby Dodds,” after Watts. It’s like picking out the three darlings of jazz drumming to note Wettling, Dodds, and Krupa. These names altered the musical landscape, despite the fact that they might seem very different from the classic rock songs we know and love today. This trio of names alone could make a huge difference in the world of percussion. The same can be said of Richards’ admiration for more recent acts, like Steve Jordan, who would succeed Charlie Watts, and George Receli, the drummer for Bob Dylan.
Jordan discussed his decision to collaborate with The Rolling Stones and cited Keith Richards in particular as an inspiration in an interview with Vanity Fair. Jordan told the publication, “Very few people that I’ve ever worked with in my life are more committed to music than Keith Richards.” “He has a strong dedication to the music. That is Keith’s most significant quality. The music of the Rolling Stones, which he adores, centers his entire world.
Richards also debunks a myth that is exclusive to the rock and roll community: that a great drummer doesn’t exist. “Well, when you think about it, there never seems to be a shortage of excellent or very good drummers. But whoa, when you really get to thinking about them! There are so many out there that I am at a loss for words. There are some African guys that really amaze me, and Sly Dunbar is not the only Jamaican.
Regarding Jordan’s subsequent remarks, Richards also emphasised the importance of drummers to the energy of a rock and roll group. He explains, “Drummers, without it you’re kind of nowhere.” “If you’re discussing the ideas behind a rock and roll band, then the first step is to choose the appropriate bassist. Since a rhythm section is, in essence, the rhythm section.
But talent alone isn’t enough. According to Richards, the connection is what really counts: “You have to have the two that really hit in together.” Thus, even if you have a great drummer and bassist, their combination will sound awful. since they both are who they are. This chemistry is an enigmatic phenomenon that defies explanation.
Favourite drummers of Keith Richards:
Charlie Watts
Steve Jordan
Drayton Charley
George Receli
Gene Krupa
Little Dodds
Georgie Wettling
Dunbar, Sly
