Keith Richards claims Mick Jagger still trying to 'control' Rolling Stones

23 December 2023 , 16:22

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"He's got a lot of blind spots" Keith says of Mick (Image: Getty Images)

Keith Richards says creative tensions continue to rage between him and Rolling Stones bandmate Sir Mick Jagger.

The guitarist claimed the frontman, 80, still tries to control the band after 60 years – and is so over-confident he believes he can play all the instruments. Keith, who turned 80 this week, let rip as the Stones’ new LP, Hackney Diamonds, claimed the Christmas No1 spot on the albums chart on Friday. The veteran rockers beat Michael Buble, Pink and Taylor Swift ’s releases.

Mick and Keith in the 60s (Getty Images)

Keith said: “Basically, my job is to write songs for Mick to sing. Mick is getting more and more that he thinks he can do it [all]. I mean, he’ll be playing drums next and God help us.” Keith added that the pair clashed over live music and there are lots of songs he would like the Stones to do live, such as Let it Bleed, but Mick refuses.

Speaking on US radio, he said: “I’m sure there’s several. Whether I can get Mick to sing them is another thing. You know Mick is the lead singer, right? He can toss it away. My job is to get him into it. If I fail my job ... he just tosses it. It’s killing me. Mick’s very good at what he does but he’s got a lot of blind spots.”

Nicola Fahey