Keith Richards on New Music, Old Friendships & the Future of the Rolling Stones | Billboard Cover

Overview

Keith Richards speaks with Billboard about how the Rolling Stones keep creating new music, what it’s like to make (and decide when it’s “done”) an album, and what the band’s future might look like.

A central theme is Richards’ belief in creative momentum without pressure—recording plenty even in years when “a lot of stuff didn’t come out.”

Creating Albums: Momentum, Timing, and Collaboration

Richards describes songs arriving “in waves.” Sometimes the band cuts tracks that are great, but don’t yet “coalesce,” so they hold back until the right energy and collaborators align.

For the Hackney Diamonds follow-up, Foreign Tongues, Richards credits producer Andrew Watt with bringing “energy and guidance,” helping sessions move along. He even points to experimental moments—such as adding instruments “to see what happens.”

He also characterizes songwriting as collaborative “kicking around” fragments, from scraps of paper to ideas “being born” in real time.

Band Chemistry and the Practical Side of Writing

The interview highlights Richards’ chemistry with the band and the realities of staying sharp:

• Richards discusses Mick Jagger’s structured parts and the common snag of “where’s the other bit?”
• He jokes that if disagreements ever become truly intense, it usually means the song isn’t good—nothing should require that level of agony.
• He emphasizes the importance of capturing a specific “BITE” in the guitar and overall sound.
• A strong rhythm-section feel is portrayed as a major driver—especially in light of Charlie Watts’ passing.

Richards also credits Charlie’s support in helping the band transition smoothly: Charlie recommended Steve Jordan early.

Standout Musical and Cultural Moments

Album Cover Choices

Richards explains the Stones’ inspirations behind two key cover tracks:

• “Amy Winehouse—You’re No Good” The band was drawn to Amy’s talent and the song’s sadness. Richards notes their roots as a cover band and says, “Amy came out on top.”

• “Chuck Berry—Beautiful Delilah” He frames it as a “what if” homage to Berry’s songwriting, along with the challenge of finding a different rhythm.

“Mount Rushmore” Influences and Recording Experimentation

Richards lists his influence “Mount Rushmore” as:

• Chuck Berry
• Muddy Waters
• Jimmy Reed
• Little Walter (among the harmonica greats)

He also expands on how recording technology—moving from two-track to four-track and beyond—encouraged constant experimentation.

AI and Music: Originality Over Repetition

Richards discusses AI in music, arguing that he’d rather hear something original than music that “copies itself.” He insists musicians should still be “playing around” instead of generating repetition through synthesis.

Humor and Personal Anecdotes (Video Highlights)

Richards includes jokes and stories throughout:

• Phones and podcasts: He quips about “Toy town” not being his world and jokes that he grew up without a phone—describing an old red-box telephone being a distant walk away. He suggests that if he went too deep into modern tech, he’d probably “bite everybody’s heads off.”

• Tweaking songs: He mocks endless revision, turning it into a gag about deciding “no anymore,” “kicking them” like footballs, and letting ideas resurface later “to breathe.”

• AI resemblance in “In the Stars”: The video features actors resembling him. Richards calls it a “brushing with AI,” and jokes he wishes he still looked like that.

Touring Plans and Life Beyond the Stage

Richards implies the immediate priority is getting Foreign Tongues out and mixed properly—without rushing.

On touring, he suggests the possibility of new formats—potentially “bring the road to us” rather than constant travel. He also acknowledges touring’s exhaustion, joking that in the old days the band was booked for nearly absurd numbers of days per year.

He shares a glimpse of daily life, including:

• mornings
• weather-based spontaneity
• the energetic chaos of grandkids

He describes grandparenthood as getting “beaten up a lot,” a playful way to capture how fascinating and exhausting it can be.

Notable Personalities Mentioned

• Keith Richards
• Mick Jagger
• Andrew Watt
• Charlie Watts
• Stevie Winwood
• Lady Gaga
• Paul McCartney
• Norah Jones
• Ronnie (Wood)
• Amy Winehouse
• Chuck Berry
• Steve Jordan
• Darryl (as part of the rhythm section)