Rolling Stones backing singer Chanel Haynes has revealed she was the first person to break the crust of Keith Richards' legendary shepherd's pie, defying a long-standing rock myth. The story, which has circulated for decades, claims that Richards insists on being the first to cut into his pre-show shepherd's pie, and that a crew member once caused a concert delay by taking a bite before him.
The Myth of Keith's Shepherd's Pie
The myth originated from a rumoured incident at a 1989 concert in Canada, where Richards allegedly refused to go on stage after a crew member took a bite of his shepherd's pie, demanding a fresh one be baked. The story became part of rock lore, with Richards himself reinforcing the rule in his autobiography Life, where he stated his demand to be the first to cut into the mashed potato top.
Chanel Haynes' Encounter
Haynes, who performed as a backing singer on the Rolling Stones' tour, was invited into Richards' dressing room before a show. Aware of the legend, she nervously asked if she could have some of the pie, which had not yet been touched. Richards laughed and told her not to believe the old story, giving her permission to be the first to break the crust.
"He laughed so hard," Haynes said. "He was like, 'don't listen to that old story. Yeah, of course!' So I had the privilege of, yeah, being the first to bite into his shepherd's pie."
A Regular Ritual
After that initial encounter, Haynes regularly ate shepherd's pie in Richards' dressing room while he practiced guitar and told her stories about his past. She described him as "a delightful man, very, very, very kind" and recalled watching his hands for 15 to 20 minutes as he played.
Haynes' revelation suggests that either Richards has mellowed with age—he turned 80 in December 2023—or the entire tale was an urban myth that spiralled out of hand. Regardless, the myth of the untouched shepherd's pie has been busted, at least for one lucky singer.
