Keith Richards Biography

Fast Facts

• In 1989, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• In 1985, he joined the Artists United Against Apartheid charity project
• Was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1993
• Grew up in the same neighborhood as his Rolling Stones bandmate Mick Jagger
• Started playing the guitar at a young age, influenced by the music of Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong and Chuck Berry
• Quote: "People say 'why don't you give it up?' I don't think they quite understand․ I'm not doing it just for the money, or for you․ I'm doing it for me․"
• Is best known as one of the founding members of the rock band The Rolling Stones
• Claims to have wrote the hit tune "Satisfaction" while sleeping
• Was the inspiration for Johnny Depp's interpretation of the character Capt․ Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean․"
• Once sang in a trio of boy sopranos who performed for Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey