Keith Richards, the legendary guitarist of The Rolling Stones, is notorious for his unapologetically blunt assessments of fellow musicians. Though Guns N’ Roses was hailed as the next big thing after the explosive success of Appetite for Destruction in 1988, Richards wasn’t as enthusiastic. While he respected the band’s rise to fame, he wasn’t exactly sold on their style or musical approach.
Richards and The Rolling Stones undeniably influenced Guns N’ Roses, particularly guitarist Slash. In an interview with Steve Jones on Jonesy’s Jukebox, Slash opened up about how deeply The Stones’ music resonated with him. He considered their catalogue his “favourite music of all time,” naming Beggars Banquet and Let It Bleed as key albums that shaped his sound. Slash even admitted that The Rolling Stones’ tunes had been the background to much of his life and childhood, with his parents being big fans too.
Despite Slash’s admiration, Richards was less than thrilled about Guns N’ Roses’ aesthetic. He had little problem with their music, acknowledging their success, but had strong opinions on their image.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Richards stated, “I admire the fact that they’ve made it despite certain resistance from the radio biz. I admire their guts. But too much posing. Their look – it’s like there’s one out of this band, one looks like Jimmy, one looks like Ronnie. Too much copycat, too much posing for me. I haven’t listened to a whole album to be able to talk about the music.”
Richards’ critique pointed to his belief that rock is about more than just the music—it’s a lifestyle and an identity. His discomfort with the band’s image was clear, though he didn’t hold back praise for their perseverance. “I’m a very hard taskmaster. I know that everybody’s gonna say, ‘Oh, he’s putting everybody down,’” Richards reflected. “But that’s just the way I see it.”
However, despite his tough love, Richards also played a crucial role in keeping Guns N’ Roses intact when Slash was considering leaving the band. At the time, the band was going through turmoil, with tensions running high, especially between Slash and lead singer Axl Rose. Richards gave Slash a piece of advice that would keep him in the band longer than he initially planned: “You never quit.”
Slash later explained the profound impact that advice had on him. “Keith is one of the few people I look up to,” Slash admitted. “He gave me the wherewithal to go back to rehearsal with a fresh attitude.” Though he would eventually leave the band, the wisdom Richards shared helped Slash stick it out during a critical time in Guns N’ Roses’ history.
