Rolling Stones star Keith Richards has revealed that he has given up his last bad habit, saying it made him feel 'childish' in his 80s. The iconic guitarist, now 82, has been reflecting on his eight decades of life and what has contributed to his longevity.
Quitting Smoking After Five Decades
Keith, who has smoked heavily for over 50 years, finally decided to quit. He explained: 'Suddenly, I felt like after all these years of smoking – because, you know, a man smokes – I was sat around with this silly thing in my mouth thinking: how childish. It was that that put me off more than anything, although I smoke a lot of weed.'
Listening to His Body
Speaking about his approach to staying healthy, Keith said: 'I tended to listen to my body just before it screamed for help. I mean, I wasn’t far from the end of the runway before I screamed for help. But you tend to slow down if you want to keep going; you pace yourself.'
No Plans to Mature
Reflecting on his career and life, Keith admitted he might be getting older but has no intention of 'maturing'. He told The Guardian: 'I mean, you do suddenly turn around and say: Christ, I’m 82. It’s a long thing to look back on. But it’s a fascinating thing, especially now we go into the whole great-grandkids thing. They suddenly give you another mirror to look into where you’re from. I don’t know: is it called maturing or something like that? God forbid.'
New Album and Tour Rumors
The Rolling Stones are set to release a new album, Foreign Tongues, next month, just three years after their last one. The final track is a recording of Chuck Berry's 1958 song 'Beautiful Delilah'. There had been rumors of a UK and European tour, but plans fell through as the band 'couldn't make it work'. However, a spokesperson promised that 'the Stones will get back onstage when they’re good and ready'.
Final Album Thoughts
When asked if Foreign Tongues could be the band's final album, Keith confessed that it 'might cross the mind occasionally' but he doesn't dwell on it. The band continues to look forward, with Keith focusing on his health and family.
