Keith Richards: The Wild Days of Heroin Love and Drug Adventures

Keith Richards, guitarist for the Rolling Stones, has faced numerous life-threatening incidents throughout his career. A notable event occurred in December 1965, during a performance in Sacramento where Richards was nearly electrocuted due to an ungrounded microphone.

Brush with Death

Bob Spitz details this incident in his book "The Rolling Stones: The Biography." Richards received a severe electric shock when the strings of his guitar touched a metal stand. Fortunately, he survived the incident, likely due to wearing thick rubber-soled shoes.

Struggles with Addiction

The late 1960s and 70s saw Richards deeply immersed in drug use alongside Anita Pallenberg. His reliance on drugs affected his work and relationships within the band. An anecdote from this period includes undergoing an unconventional detox method with friend Gram Parsons, which ultimately failed.

Richards' drug problems were so severe that they strained the band's dynamics and led to erratic behavior. He even fell asleep during performances at times.

Turning Points

Richards experienced multiple arrests related to drug possession but eventually managed to overcome his addiction to hard drugs. Meeting Patti Hansen marked a positive change in his personal life; they married and had two daughters together.

In recent years, Richards reduced substance use significantly, giving up smoking in 2020 while remaining active in music performances.