Keith Richards, the legendary lead guitarist of The Rolling Stones, has earned the right to be brutally honest about his peers in the music world. With over six decades of rock history and countless classic hits under his belt, Richards has long been a defining figure in music. His candidness, often sharp-edged and controversial, has become a hallmark of his character, both in interviews and throughout his career. Whether it’s his music or his famously audacious lifestyle, Richards’ outspoken nature has kept fans, critics, and fellow musicians on edge.
One of his most infamous critiques came in his assessment of Britpop legends Oasis. Richards dismissed the band as “crap,” describing them as “just obnoxious.” He didn’t stop there, adding, “Grow up and then come back and see if you can hang.” For many, Oasis was a force to be reckoned with in the ’90s, but Richards wasn’t one to buy into the hype.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. Richards has never been afraid to give his two cents on bands that, on the surface, seem far removed from his own musical universe. From the bluesy rock of Jethro Tull to the orchestral layers of Blood, Sweat & Tears, Richards made it clear in interviews that no group, no matter how distant their sound, was safe from his scrutiny.
Perhaps most surprisingly, Richards’ early critique extended to Led Zeppelin, a band that was exploding onto the scene with their first albums in 1969. While Richards gave high praise to Jimmy Page’s guitar work, he didn’t hold back on frontman Robert Plant, admitting that after repeated listens to their debut, “the guy’s voice started to get on my nerves.” This would not be the last time Richards had words for Zeppelin, particularly their frontman, as his criticism of the band persisted over the years.
But Richards wasn’t done. His venom also extended to another iconic act of the time: The Bee Gees. The Gibb brothers, who had already released six albums by 1969, had yet to achieve their world-dominating disco status, but Richards wasn’t impressed. He mockingly described them as being trapped in “their own little fantasy world” where they only talked about “kid stuff.” It was a sharp dismissal that showed just how far Richards would go in sharing his unfiltered opinions on the music scene.
Throughout his career, Richards has shown a remarkable ability to cut through the noise and tell it like it is, whether that’s about his contemporaries or acts he sees as overhyped. His bluntness is one of the qualities that makes him one of rock’s most intriguing and unpredictable figures.
