100 Most Influential People in Fashion

Fashion Influential #53: Keith Richards

KEITH RICHARDS
Born:
December 18, 1943 in Dartford, Kent, England
Fan of:
Scotty Moore, Little Walter, Big Bill Broonzy, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed
Net Worth:
$220+ Million
Beginnings.
Drugs are bad. Bad. Bad. They’re bad for you and they get you into trouble. Okay? That said, few people have been able to make an overindulgence in every vice imaginable work in their favor more so than founding member of the Rolling Stones, Keith Richards. After five consecutive drug-related charges were brought against him from 1967 to 1978, Richards has had a difficult time shaking the drug-addled rocker image, some would even argue that he is the epitome of it.

Richards with his wife Patti Hansen Career Highs.
You could say that Richards’ entire career has been one big high. For someone with such a notorious reputation for being notorious, anything that happens to you can be spun in such a way that that the media and general public goes, “Eh, it’s Keith Richards.” For example, in 2007, Richards told NME magazine that he once snorted his dead father’s ashes. “I opened his box up and ... out comes a bit of dad on the dining room table. I'm going, 'I can't use a brush and dustpan for this.” Initial reports said that he mixed his dad with cocaine but Richards later clarified, “I said I'd chopped him up like cocaine, not with.”
I've never had a problem with drugs. I've had problems with the police.
- Keith Richards
Career Lows.
Snorting his dad.

Legacy.
Many tales of Richards’ debauchery have been fabricated (especially in the early days of the Stones). For example, Richards never had a blood transfusion to kick his heroin habit or flush his system. Drugs and rock ‘n’ roll go hand-in-hand but the Rolling Stones would not be the mega touring success they are if Richards was constantly in a drooling heroin heap. He’s a pirate, a guitarist, a song-writer and a rock star, and he forever will be.

If you saw this guy on the street, you'd probably give him change.
Get the look.
Try buying one of those beautiful Louis Vuitton guitar cases with which Richards was photographed by Annie Leibovitz. That’s about as bad ass as you can get. But if it’s the rock ‘n’ roll look you want, step 1 is to get a vintage leather jacket that is fitted and maybe a little too tight. Step 2 are tight black pants. Step 3 are a pair of black boots (and spare no expense on these). Richards’ trademark head scarf might be pushing it but if you can pull it off, by all means, go for it. - John