Keith Richards - Did Gram Parsons influence the Stones?

Keith Richards answers a fan question about the influence of Gram Parsons on Rolling Stones songs like Country Honk and Wild Horses. He also talks a bit about blues en country music. Posted on Keith's website (Ask Keith) around 2004: www.keithrichards.com/
(I do not own any copyrights)

[@williamstone6818]

"If he'd only taken better care of himself", spoken by the master

[@terr777]

... with an emphysema cough.

[@jfayiii]

When Keith Richards says it, you know it was bad.

[@jeffg1524]

William, that was the first thing in he interview I laughed out loud from...lol. Imagine Keith Richards saying to another you need to take better care of yourself?...lol. How he hasn't died 100 times over by now escapes me. He must have made one hell of a deal with the devil.

[@DH-xm3hc]

@@terr777 and yet Keith Richards is still performing. ✌❤🌻

[@DH-xm3hc]

@@jfayiii Really! ✌❤🌻

[@sebastiansaville2043]

Old Keef. You gotta love him, "if he'd only just taken a little more care of himself". That has to be the funniest interview line ever.

[@johnweyers2685]

I was the drummer in a band called Leapin' Lena out of East Boston. We did original material, but we used to play "Wild Horses" before the Stones released it. We had listened to Gram Parsons doing it and loved it.

[@dalelerette206]

Some harmonies are so sacred they are nearly untouchable...Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, & Linda Ronstadt "In My Hour of Darkness"...kzbin.info/www/bejne/gavYhJiXgt5gl7c

[@franktheo2055]

Gram Parsons was a greatly gifted and amazingly talented pioneer of country rock music he was just a kid when he died @ 26 years of age. During his life he accomplished more things than most people did in a lifetime. Wild Horses & Dead Flowers forever, And I won't forget to put rose's on your grave. Yep..

[@franktheo2055]

@@chucku.farley6463 Those are Jagger Richards compositions. I remember The Flying Burrito Brothers and The Gram Parsons Project when I was a teen during the 1970's. After seeing this interview I had to look him up and yes he was a genus. And it was never a secret about Keith's love for country music and the Stones played it so well. Peace.

[@franktheo2055]

@@chucku.farley6463 A compassionate story about your friend & the recording of Grievous Angel. Without a doubt I miss walking into a record store and and looking through a section and alphabetically thumbing through vinyl or CD's and picking out recordings from your favorite artists. From the time I was in grade school during the mid 1960's to this date The Rolling Stones turned us on to so many musicians that they covered. And musicians that did covers of music by Jagger Richards so well and in good taste to the likes of Gram Parsons. Well I guess that one hand washes the other and it's what makes the world go around in music or in life. To You & Yours Be Well - Happy New Year !

[@Whitman1819]

Don't forget 'She' what a beautiful tune!

[@NickNicometi]

Gram was a trust-fund baby and while most musicians were struggling, Gram had the luxury to philosophize & medicate.

[@franktheo2055]

@@NickNicometi I looked him up on Wiki, he was of money and didn't live in poverty, but he didn't' have a charmed childhood. His biological parents were alcoholics and his father committed suicide. But, as the old saying goes - It Is What It Is..

[@zamiadams4343]

Gram is so sadly missed by us all, but his music will go on forever.

[@Martin-iv6lq]

No. He's not missed by us all. He ended up where he was supposed to. Dead

[@jml238]

When you see Gram's smile, what's not to love! So ahead of his time! Still is! Forever young...❤

[@poddylamb]

Geez you know if Keith Richards is saying he should have taken better care of yourself, you might have some pretty serious problems.

[@AntonioEscohotadoEspinosa]

Self importance the first, because success becomes toxic in childish minds. Nevertheless, if you add Chris Hilman and Dylan, the birth of country rock will remain a glorious moment. Enjoy soft or loud, and dont forget to bless KZbin, Google,Gates ... Stupids think otherwise.

[@TMIDiva]

It's utterly amazing that this man is still walking the planet! I saw his picture on a magazine cover and thought "Was it a deal with the Devil or what? How'd you avoid the reaper all these years?"

[@fingerprint5511]

I have to admit after he said that my mind was spinning ... had to rewind to hear the rest lol

[@FuzzyDancingBear]

@@TMIDiva all that prime pussy he got in the 60s

[@williamdonnelly224]

Yeah lol

[@randallbarnes207]

Bless you Keith for those kind words about Gram.

[@DavidSush1]

Love the Stones. Love Gram. But Keith totally dances around the question here. Yes, Gram Parsons most definitely did influence the Rolling Stone's in their country rock flavored songs like "Dead Flowers" and "Wild Horses" for sure.

[@barneyrubble8255]

Kieths not going to explain the complex intracacies of how stones songs were created in these short little clips he's doing. Sympathy for the devil shows how they make songs, and they all fuck around for a while, until the way they're going to do the song comes out. Maybe graham was there fucking around with them and contributed to wild horses. It's hard to say, there's that video of keith and parsons with parsons noodling over kieths wild horses chords, but isnt that after they already recorded wild horses in muscle shaols?

[@american_cosmic]

I dont think he danced around anything... he said flat-out they were both leaning in the same direction.

[@barneyrubble8255]

@@american_cosmic What does that mean exactly? "leaning in the same direction" Seems keith came up with the chord progression.. Did Mic or Parsons come up with the melody?

[@american_cosmic]

@@barneyrubble8255 Leaning in the same direction as far as exploring a fusion of rock and country. That's what Keith meant.

[@barneyrubble8255]

@@american_cosmic Yeah but that's not the question everyone on youtube is asking. Everyone wants to know if Parsons wrote any part of Wild Horses. I guess no reporter is going to ask Keith that.

[@jamesheath7601]

Gram Parsons was underrated

[@daveyvane9431]

“underrated” is way over used

[@jamesheath7601]

@@daveyvane9431 🔔 end

[@cogitatione1]

That really was a great question about Gram Parsons if only because it caused Richards to stop and focus and make some of his most intelligent and articulate and heartfelt comments. It's like when Eric Clapton talks about Gregg Allman: brothers from another mother.

[@poom641]

He has so much character in that face. Well said Keith

[@philjames6206]

Part 2. Keith gave me about 20/30 minutes of his time, was incredibly gracious, supercool and everything you hoped Keith Richards would be. Because I knew my Stones history backward he totally engaged with me, when Gram Parsons came up he said ' Dear Gram God rest his soul' and made the sign of the cross (which impressed me greatly). After I felt I had taken up enough of his time he signed a $5 note and I watched him go over to Mick, while I went and stood outside on the beach soaking it up. Within minutes Mick was standing at my shoulder...so of course I spoke to him, but that is another story. Viva The Rolling Stones & Gram Parsons.

[@morganptah3266]

I saw Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris play together in a bar in Georgetown, DC as a kid. Didn’t know who they were at the time…young, drinking, looking for fun🤠

[@curtismoff]

Keith said in a interview once Its not the drugs that kill you Its the lifestyle

[@dianeward5405]

Well in some cases seems the drugs became the lifestyle

[@___David___Savian]

Never mind Gram. What is shocking is that Keith is still alive after all the smoking and drugs and drinking he has done in his life.

[@SW-fn7cl]

He got quality shit and never took too much, high functioning dude

[@folgore1]

He's 77 but looks more like 97! Still, he's Rock n' Rolls greatest survivor!

[@___David___Savian]

@@folgore1 Yeah. Keith should have been the one singing the song I'm A Survivor, not Beyonce and Destiny's Child !!!!

[@RobinSchoutenRS]

@@folgore1 This video is from 2004. Keith was 60 then.

[@dianeward5405]

Pretty shocking, the lifestyle that claimed so many, ultimately, even took Charlie away thogh he quit his drinking and drugging and smoking too, probably not soon enough.. Oddly, it wasn't drugs that killed John Lennon, who took drugs and drank and smoked, it was a gun!

[@sleekfast11]

RIP, Gram. RIP.

[@judebez]

an extended version of how the Stones monetized Gram Parsons talent

[@acemacgruber6593]

After the excesses of psychedelic music, back to basics blues and country were influencing many groups.

[@johnhamilton5290]

Every interview I've seen him in he is very humble, candid, funny and insightful. The Rolling Stones have always been a serious band, fun loving for sure, but they worked very hard to perfect their sound. I saw them only once, in Germany in 1971. I was in the Army. They were having an off night, and Mick Jagger was being a j*rk, but they cooked on a couple of songs - Honky Tonk Women and Street Fightin' Man.

[@williardbillmore5713]

What a brilliant man. Just listening to him speak you can see that he is thinking about a thousand more things than he is talking about.

[@paolo-n2000]

"If he only kept his mouth shut"....what a very curious thing to say about Gram's demise....

[@stevesimmer]

Mouth shut, as in not imbibing mass quantities of alcohol and drugs.

[@kayedeedid]

yes, I thought so as well. In the US, that would suggest foul play. In the UK it might mean something else so I'll just leave it at that. But then, perhaps Keith wanted to say Gram should have kept away from the booze and the drugs but then thought to himself, "That one's gonna come back and bite me."

[@paolo-n2000]

you inject heroin via ones mouth...its an odd statement for Keif to say about Gram....

[@amyevans1118]

I use to cry when I heard this song. It touches my soul. It brings back old memories of someone I loved so much. I believed in us. He left after 17 years. This song reminds me of us when we were young and promised the world to each other. I guess it was silly of us. I've moved on and I'm in a good relationship much healthier.

[@briantranter4317]

what fuckin song

[@bodensick]

Did Gram influence the Stones? Just listen to 'Wild Horses' and you hear Gram

[@StationaryWilburys]

Man this brought the biggest smile to my face

[@jaredmello]

You should read Keith’s autobiography if you haven’t already. Lot of GP references in it.

[@MrBhart2408]

Keith giving health advice?😆

[@loilt5091]

This wasn't the first time, he also stepped up for former bandmates, Bobby Keys & Charlie Watts, during some challenging points of their lives. He knows what's going on!!

[@sardonicus76]

When Keith tells you to “cool it with the drugs, man”, you know it’s serious.

[@VanessaMallia]

🤭

[@coverversionoftheday9941]

You can tell that he has really honed that answer over the years. Haha

[@terriqueen3315]

possible cover up

[@bareknuckles2u]

OMG...I love him! I will be sad when he goes...REALLY sad...ok, he's still here, chin up, let's keep enjoying! Sorry, just on a COVID bummer at the moment. Heading to the wine cabinet and the record shelf right now. A glass of red and "Sticky Fingers" on vinyl. Cheers!

[@billowens8051]

sounds like a great plan.

[@d.st.michael4195]

I hear ya. Guy damn near has me in tears.

[@linda.cafaro4284]

He knows Gram had a lot to do with influencing the Stones

[@tekannon7803]

Thank you Mr Richards, First, thank you and the Stones for your music and especially ‘Ruby Tuesday’ for the line, ‘lose your dreams and you will lose your mind’ and ‘Wild Horses’ which is the only song I play from your vast repertoire! I am happy to know one of your great songs. It is great to hear your tributes to Gram Parsons. You say it in a way that I am sure Gram would be proud; it’s from a true friend. I never figured out why he was lost from sight until I heard yesterday that Jim Croce died the day after he did. One of my favorite albums is ‘Sweetheart of the Rodeo’ and I never knew that Gram had such an influence on that iconic album. If I may say one thing about what you said about Gram’s lifestyle and that is I would only say this. Unfortunately accidents happen and that is it wasn’t anything more than bad luck that day for Gram and it could have happened to all of us dozens of times and I speak for myself. We can’t criticize someone’s way of life and say he or she was too ‘this’ or not enough ‘that’ because we ourselves wouldn’t want someone talking about us like that if we had a mishap and lady luck was out to lunch and it was all over. Gram Parsons sure had a good friend in you and you have made artists round the world keep going for their dreams.

[@budmanfwb]

I disagree if you abuse substance it’s not unlucky or an accident - action equals consequences - yes accidents happen to all of us but if you put yourself repeatedly in harms way - your chances are higher of reaping what you sow!

[@ShadowWizard123]

Gram wrote Wild Horses

[@willemgroen7546]

Very well said sir!

[@chichipotter4487]

May he live forever

[@philcolisovclosetotheedge2973]

Gram was from another dimension and Keith was just drinking with him

[@vinonavortex5582]

So right about gram check out gram singing Christian life live in Rome with the Byrd’s on callin me home lp he slows down the tempo it’s like a Gregorian chant so beautiful powerful also you don’t miss your water and hickory wind on same lp all head and shoulders above everything else on that album gram forever

[@LittleSparrow9]

"If he'd just kept his mouth shut ..." I listened to a radio interview done in Massachusetts 6 months before he died and he did not sound strung out or messed up At All; very lucid and candid. Grand Theft Parsons - yeah, watch the movie and judge for yourselves.

[@nightingaleofsorrow9349]

It could have just been a weekend of extreme over indulgence that happened. Either way it was so sad and left the world wondering what could have been. Will always Love Gram 💕

[@tosinoparinde9563]

I love you Keith Richards ❤️💕

[@SnoopiesPoopies]

Grams notebook is the the rock and roll hall of fame with 3 different versions of wild horses including chord progressions… he probably wrote it with Keith while introducing him to some country stuff when they lived together in France. Jagger has said they worked on it together and there’s a recording of gram saying the stones wrote it so who knows?!?

[@philjames6206]

Gotta love Keith Richards. He not only talks sense, but in the 1970's he was the coolest guy in town. Was fortunate enough to meet him in a nightclub called Harbour Lights in Barbados-Mick was there too, and they only had one person keeping an eye out for them. Keith had been there on his own the night before, but this time when I looked up and saw him by himself at the bar with a jack and coke I figured it was now or never, what with the Stones having been my favourite group for the past 15 years.

[@billowens8051]

The 1960s and early 70s were an unprecedented time in popular music. It was fertile ground for innovation, cross-pollination, and searching for wider and deeper expression. By 1968 many bands and artists were mining the blues, C & W, bluegrass and even jazz to broaden their palettes. I'm sure Gram influenced the Stones, while the Stones influenced hundreds of other artists. Some will argue that the lyrical tone of Wild Horses sounds more like Gram than the Stones, but I think it fits in plausibly with some of the Stones more melancholy ballads of the mid-60s. But these are all opinions, and I'll take Keith and Gram at their word - the Stones wrote WH and gave it to Gram because they knew he would love it and do it justice on his own. Again, just my opinion. But whoever was the main writers(s), they created a fucking masterpiece.

[@lynnefromthelake]

Frankly, I think that all music that has come before has influenced the future artists and their compositions and style. Take The Stones, just for an example. They were so influenced by the early blues singers. "Little Red Rooster" for example. If you look back to the late '20's, that would be the first iteration of that song. This was done by Charlie Patton, Wolf's mentor. Sister Rosetta Tharpe pioneered her electric guitar sound in popular music. She influenced Clapton, Beck and Richards, among many others. So, I think music is a lineage of all that came before. From Dixieland, to Jazz to Blues to Rock. We have built upon those pioneers. Gram was totally influenced by the Louvin Brothers. And so it goes...

[@terriqueen3315]

Jagger recalled his contributions to “Wild Horses” in the liner notes to the 1993 Stones’ anthology Jump Back: The Best Of The Rolling Stones. “I remember we sat around doing this with Gram Parsons, and I think his version came out slightly before ours,” Mick said. “

[@barneyrubble8255]

Yet Parsons Claims Richards and Jagger wrote it, even though he records it a year before them Truly a mysterious song.

[@terriqueen3315]

@@barneyrubble8255 Maybe they intended to be enigmatic ,together, as they know fans love that...

[@terriqueen3315]

It always gives the songs more play time..

[@barneyrubble8255]

@@terriqueen3315 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnqXaYd9jtOJi7s The song is enigmatic forsure, listening to keith play the chord progression and parsons noodling lead guitar over it, if this video is from before parsons recorded the song, it guess that was parsons contribution and jagger caem up with his vocal phrasing and singing melody much of it based off the soul of parsons guitar noodling.. Technically still making it a jagger and richards song lyric is like 75 % of publshing and richards invented the chord progression, but at the same time theres parsons soulfulness in the song as much as richards and jagger. PArsons then wouldnt feel like he wrote the song, just that he influenced the way jagger sang...with his guitar playing over those richards chords. This makes sense based on the video, and all their later claims.

[@slimturnpike]

​@@barneyrubble8255 that's not correct. The Stones recorded Wild Horses before Gram did, but Gram released his first. Stones recorded it over a three-day period at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama during 2-4 December 1969 but didn't release it till much later. Meanwhile the Burrito Bros released their version six months later in May 1970

[@danbernstein4694]

We have to make sure our grandchildren leave a better world for Keith Richards.

[@kevanbrown7620]

Wild horses is a classic track, brilliant.

[@commonsensibility2051]

Kevan Brown wild horses is a strange one for the stones. Listen to Susan boyles version! It blew my mind and I am sure that Keith would recognise it as perfection!

[@margaretross9150]

Actually, I find Gram's version to be perfection.

[@joefairweatherblues8511]

It's not half bad

[@joefairweatherblues8511]

@@margaretross9150 Yes, now having listened to it properly, it's a great version. www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/flying-burrito-brothers-gram-parsons-rolling-stones-wild-horses-1158844/

[@s.ebright7620]

keith is really such a sweet, tender spirit. His voice is great.

[@linda.cafaro4284]

Why doesn’t anyone give Gram any credit for anything?

[@margaretross9150]

Many artists give him credit for greatly influencing their careers; Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam, Ian Tyson, Jim Lauderdale, Evan Dando among them. Linda Ronstadt said they had a shared musical vision. The Stones maybe not so much.

[@leemadden3able]

Gram was like Hendrix and bolan all of them were creating amazing music which was well ahead of their time each of them were musical geniuses 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@KoolTunes4Daze]

Ingram Cecil Connor III (November 5, 1946 - September 19, 1973), known professionally as Gram Parsons, was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist. Parsons recorded as a solo artist and with the International Submarine Band, the Byrds, and the Flying Burrito Brothers. He popularized what he called "Cosmic American Music", a hybrid of country, rhythm and blues, soul, folk, and rock

[@AnaMaria-vz8vi]

Parsons es maravilloso, único,hay personas que la vida les viene grande,descanse en paz ,su música llena mi alma,

[@laserluver1]

Everyone talks about Wild Horses. Listen to Torn and Frayed off of Exile on Main Street some time. You can hear Gram Parsons' influence all over that.

[@beeztrapp1612]

Very much so. A lot of that album feels like Keith talking to Gram musically to me, if that makes sense.

[@NJcruiser]

Yep, my favorite song off of Exile and I doubt that very many people know of it. I think the Stones only tried to play it live once to my knowledge with Ron Wood on pedal steel and it definitely needed some work to make it sound better.

[@jimshillingford2027]

That is without a doubt correct .You can also add the song ,"Dead Flowers" off Sticky Fingers on that song list .Gram and Keith were soul brothers .I think Keith learned a lot from Gram ,and Gram wanted to be the 6th Rolling Stone. Both Gram and Keith were doing so many drugs together the band had to Gram out of the Exile On Main Street sessions.

[@michaelsmith9226]

Torn and frayed was written about Keith and Gram

[@RobinSchoutenRS]

You're absolutely right. I also like to add Sweet Virginia. Read several times that Gram was in the studio when they recorded it (in Keith's basement) and possibly sang backing vocals on it. During the last seconds of the song you can hear somebody say with an American accent: "Far out." Maybe Gram?

[@at1970]

There’s a lesson here for all of us. I just don’t know what it is. When aliens finally visit the burned out husk of this planet in a few million years, I hope keef has a good line up of stones songs picked out to play for them.

[@thesurfhotrodscene4060]

Check out the 2 Gary Usher Byrds specials for more about this and Gram Parsons time in the Byrds.

[@branko4033]

Keef's been my main man over the last 50+ years, and I really hope he'll be there at least as long as me. Still, GP not only "influenced Keef". Without GP, there would not have been Sticky Fingers, or the Exile, or probably the Stones altogether.

[@alicevanderbruggen8711]

Keith🙏💛🙌 Gram RIP

[@CapAnson12345]

I heard Gram had a falling out with the Stones when Mick started to be jealous.. Gram being one of the few people who could out-alpha male Mick.

[@AnthonyBurrito1313]

LMAO Mick is Keiths Bitch

[@lululuna1224]

I think (maybe) Mick's issue with Gram wasn't jealousy, it became at one point that Mick felt Gram and Keith were feeding each other (in many ways), but that Gram was taking away focus causing a detoured influence (of time) from the Stones. Maybe Mick felt Keith should have been working on the Stones and not playing around so much, probably also the worry of the amount of drink/drug usage when they were together. I think/feel losing Keith to drink/drug overdose (or any reason for that matter) would have been detrimental to the Stones, it could have ended the Stones. It's beyond sad that we lost Gram 💔, I was very much a Gram follower 💕. I am of that time and it is the music that I listen to all the time !!! ☮️🙏💜

[@eqx7168]

@@patexx7091 fucked... come on, it was the 70's

[@scottvaughn9]

Read Keith's book. I don't ever think there was any "alpha" nonsense as part of the equation. I think Gram and Keith just saw somewhat of a mirror in each other and were a bit struck, musically speaking. Kind of like "where has this person been all my life?". Just a great, symbiotic match. I think 'Country', as a genre, would've found its way into the Stones' music eventually. Gram's influence on Keith simply accelerated the process.

[@sgt.thundercok4704]

LOL, Jagger is NOT an alpha male. Keith is, but not the effete Jagger.

[@julianmarsh1378]

Why do so many things turn around to being about Richards? The question was about Parsons....

[@branko4033]

Gotta Love Keef. Period. Or if you wanna go into the why's and when's you'll wind up with a volume that makes Tolstoy's War And Peace look like a flyer at your nearest strip mall.

[@richardflowers4674]

Enough with the conspiracy theories! Can't we love both artists without this nonsense. Wild Horses is a Stones composition, everyone who was there confirms this. The Stones, Jimmy Miller, Bobby Keys, and Jim Dickinson all say this. Even Gram himself( list to audio clip in "What happened to Gram Parsons) says "they gave it to me to record"

[@barneyrubble8255]

Just that nobody can believe that jagger would be generous enough to give away one of the best things he ever written...

[@barneyrubble8255]

He must of loved him if he gave him wild horses to record a year before the stones

[@markcarey67]

We need to start thinking about the kind of world we want to leave to Keith Richards

[@JimmyFranceable]

Shut up with this line.

[@kathleenogrady8459]

Brilliant.

[@adamfindlay7091]

I was just thinking ( Jah wonderful) of the last chord or about the last one in Can't You Hear Me Knocking, sounds somber, like, it can go someplace else, and I wonder if that was Graham's influence. Just wondering. No blame.

[@kirkwatson1442]

Thank you keef❤

[@janforss8877]

No one at his age gets away with that kind of outfit except KR. I think all of Stones country song are inspired by Gram.

[@sunshinekanner9406]

agreed, except I think Gram wrote the song. he didn't have a "hit" because he didn't live long enough, and country music said he "wasn't country" which is bull, in my opinion. how well versed was Keith with country again? BS

[@randyc5650]

Gram is on record saying he first heard Wild Horses after the Altamont concert and Mick asked him if he could put a steel guitar track on a master if he sent it. Gram said they had some strange dust at the studio and the Stones didn't use the track. Gram asked Mick if he could use the song and released it. The Stones didn't release it until about a year later. You can hear Gram's voice saying it on youtube.

[@gregrourke4182]

I like to think that too, but if you look at the timeline . . . ( don't get me wrong, I love Gram and I love the Stones, but if you REALLY look at the timing, well . . . ) BUT, Gram DEFINITELY had an influence! Every time I hear "Far Away Eyes" and many other songs I immediately think of Gram! Thanks! Take care, be safe and God Bless!

[@frankiebutler2894]

Randy C Yes, I saw & heard that interview as well. I wish people would read what truths others share with them in comments, instead of continuing to make up their own story (rumor). They heard it from “horses mouth”, (Gram), and still believe and comment, that Gram wrote it.

[@lastrada52]

Jan -- "No one at his age gets away with that kind of outfit except KR." -- respectfully take into consideration: For decades upon decades before Keith was born gypsies, bohemians, tramps, hobos, pirates & some eccentric artists dressed this way & many were even older than he is. Mostly European in nature, be it French, Greek, Russian, Austrian, some Italians & Spanish from Spain (Bohos), & much later some old west drifters & drovers. Keith's get-up is not original -- he's just famous for it. I'm glad he adapted it. It suits him. But he didn't develop it -- he interpreted it. As for the colorful rubber bands & trinkets that hang from his hair -- the late Captain Lou Albano of wrestling fame wore those 40 years ago & he wasn't young.

[@astridmourning8468]

Does Johnny Depp pay Richards royalties for ripping off his persona?

[@barnabywylde2224]

He let Keith play his father in the Pirates movies, so yeah, he does pay him royalties.

[@josefk5659]

Richard's splits the royalty with The Hunter S. Thompson Estate.

[@Cyan3031]

Lol yeah Johnny Depp really does not know who he is, and Richards is one of a kind - there is only one Keith Richards but Depp does not know who he really is - and he's a actor so he imitates cool and interesting people like Keith Richards

[@grantdouglas8523]

Astrid Mourning yea he is the ultimate pirate

[@gregrourke4182]

@@Cyan3031 Johnny Depp . . . LOL! . . . I would say more, especially about his troubles with his EX, but I don't want to be mean.

[@burlatsdemontaigne6147]

The word he is looking for is 'Heroin'.

[@bruceg1845]

what is it about Gram, everybody loved him?

[@margaretross9150]

Charming personality, lovely manners, heartbreaking vocals, haunting lyrics, deep understanding of American musical styles, good sense of humour, gorgeous appearance, great sense of style; I've probably missed a few. Unfortunately coupled with self destructiveness and erratic behaviour. Legend.

[@ThaiThom]

GP "should have kept his mouth shut?" What's that supposed to mean?

[@louied2613]

Yeah I was wondering that too . Should have been a follow up question

[@retiredkidbuck]

It means he shouldn't have drunk so much booze. Difficult to drink your self to death with your mouth shut.

[@Bluesbabesrv]

Ted Kennedy the drugs didn’t help either.

[@lizalewis9270]

Two words: WILD HORSES Two more words: DEAD FLOWERS

[@leemadden3able]

Two more words Rolling Stones

[@TomSmith-dt4tj]

what does he say at 0:20 as he points to the sky?

[@mason8971]

Something vaguely jamaican is my assumption but dont quote me on that

[@brothamanhowser8222]

He says “jah wonderful” jah means god

[@gracemariepabriga7039]

It's good that even Keith underwent various substance abuse & booze, he really was aware of his limits-unlike other drug or substance users like Gram Parsons & Brian Jones, they really hit rock bottom until they lost their lives.

[@keefriff99]

That's just mythologizing. Does Keith have an unusually sturdy constitution? That seems pretty obvious, but he's also VERY lucky. He could just as easily have died as any other drug casualty in the '70s.

[@deadinthebed963]

It was the OPPOSITE of mythologizing, the guy suggested Keith KNEW the limit to his string. How did you misinterpret that? If anything what you said was myth.

[@BlindTom61]

Sounds so much like Spinal Tap... in a good way of course.

[@leemadden3able]

When gram done an interview which is on KZbin he said when he was in London and with Keith Richard’s and mick jagger he asked them if he could use the song wild horses on his album and Keith and mick both agreed he could that doesn’t sound like someone who wrote the track it sounds like someone asking the song writers permission to use that song no disrespect to gram intended

[@margaretross9150]

And he sang the song so beautifully.

[@aberamagold7509]

So what's the guess on Keith's age in this interview? I say 30 Because if I remember correctly his plan was to celebrate his 30th birthday that night with a huge alcohol and drug fuelled party 🥳... ... or was it just a normal Wednesday? I always get them mixed up.

[@johnlamb2754]

Did Keith have the same kind words to say about Brian.

[@irishguy200007]

What does he mean if Grahm not Gram had kept his mouth shut, it didn't need to happen?? This comment makes me uneasy.

[@margaretross9150]

Keith may have been referring to Gram's death being due to the effects of his combining morphine with alcohol. He once said that Gram knew better than to do that.

[@irishguy200007]

@@margaretross9150 Keep his mouth shut just gives me the chills.

[@paolo-n2000]

@@irishguy200007 - no doubt about it....

[@andrewbowen6875]

It was Dylan who broke away from the scene imo with stuff like John Wesley Harding that showed the way. That said Gram played on my favourite Byrd’s record Sweetheart of the Rodeo

[@paolo-n2000]

amazing album! Byrds owe Gram a lot!!!

[@ixchel3910]

I gonna put in a straight comment, and not do 'replies' to all these wrong-way riffs on Gram & the Stones: yeah, Kieth and Gram were natural soul-mates, socially and even more so musically: they were both of that very rare breed who can grasp Composition, Arrangement, and Orchestration as naturally as picking the strings. They were both Chord Construction & Chord Progression guys; both the kind who will sit up for two nights to find the right way to fret A Minor Suspended-that's what they loved about each other, Gram probably had more of that in him than even Mick did, which probably why they would never get along. What Gram DID lack, was anything like the DISCIPLINE that Mick & Kieth have brought to their music for near-on 60 years, Gram was never going to work that hard, and Kieth knew that also. That some of it must have come out of the all-night jams with Gram, is why musicians jam in the first place. More than Kieth picked up from Ry Cooder, or Al Kooper, or even Scotty Moore, who he never did record with? Does it Matter?

[@barneyrubble8255]

Thats what i think the song came out of an all night drug jam with richards mic and parsons. That would make sense why they would let him record it first, but also why parsons claims that richards and jagger wrote it, they may of wrote most of it, playing off of what ever parsons was doing

[@kaoseast1]

You keep your mouth shut or they shut it for u. Some of my friends dont know who they belong to .

[@stevecovaleski6315]

you all can "think" whatever you like, parsons did NOT write wild horses, he influenced the final product

[@fukc26]

Steve Covaleski the stones have a pattern of “borrowing” songs. Sad but true

[@richgambino9623]

They took a lot from Gram. Anything twangy from the Stones can be aligned with a Gram tune. For example, compare Far Away Eyes to Grams Hippie Boy.

[@alphajava761]

Keef is an atheist but reaches to the heavens for Gram.

[@hakancevikel7368]

keith once said that he isn't religious but he is a spiritual guy. he is not atheist IMO.

[@alphajava761]

@@hakancevikel7368 yeah I don't think so either...

[@vinonavortex5582]

Check out gram singing Christian life live in Rome with the Byrd’s on callin me home lp it’s like a Gregorian chant the genius of gram parsons beautiful powerful thank you gram god bless you forever

[@briandufoe3719]

Everybody is influenced by everybody, Prop came before the jet, Wild,wild Horses, one has gone to pasture.

[@LarryDavidshow]

It's so amazing that this guy smokes,drinks like a fish and God only knows what else and he is still alive.. Strong genes or just very lucky! God bless you Keith👍

[@petermills2061]

Keith has'nt lived like that for years , he even quit smoking !

[@MichaelSmith-ff2bq]

They were all photo-ops anyway. He's a machine creation.

[@alanoneill3065]

Blood doping?

[@tuffgonggbUNCTION]

SOULJAH ROCKER

[@johnburman966]

Wild horses was written by Parsons, they 'borrowed' it....seems they did a lot of that....am I wrong. Should hear John Lennon's opinion of them.

[@TomSmith-dt4tj]

Richards didnt answer the question: Did Parsons influence the stones.

[@viralbuthow000]

@GFrank2 exactly

[@JohnLnyc]

He answered it immediately. They were “leaning in the same direction” a really terrific and incite full response.

[@tonybates7870]

@GFrank2 Exactly. Keith Richards never admits any influence unless it's someone that came along long before the Stones, like Berry, Elvis etc.

[@RobinSchoutenRS]

@@JohnLnyc Exactly, the answer is something in between yes and no. More yes, I suspect.

[@JohnLnyc]

@@RobinSchoutenRS Agree. There’s a lot of “cross pollinating” that takes place with music. A lot of it subconscious. “Influence” is a bit stronger implying a direct and easily definable thing. Chuck Berry for example influenced Keith, you can hear it. Keith will readily cite it. Parsons and Keith were contemporaries and some less definable attributes of each might rub off on each other.

[@50gary]

Humm, one of the few times I've seen Keef looking nervous and unsettled? I'd bet a tonne Wild Horses was a GP song or at least came out of a jam as a demo/rough cut. Edit, yeah, what was that line KR said at 1:01 "if he would have kept his mouth shut"?

[@50gary]

@@patexx7091 Other than the fact the Wild Horses sounds just like a Gram Parsons song, and the Rolling Stones did the country influenced songs at the time Parsons and Richards were hanging out and friends? John Lennon has said The Stones always put out an album two months after the Beatles trying to cope the Beatles vibe.

[@margaretross9150]

I'm guessing the "mouth shut" comment just means he shouldn't have mixed an opiate with alcohol, something Keith has referred to before. That combination of respiratory depressants sadly pushed Gram over the edge. Those guys thought they knew what they were doing, but they were flirting with death, especially Gram, who had a family history of addiction.

[@GroundbreakGames]

According to Gram himself, no. The stones had already recorded the song when Gram first heard it. He then was asked to play a steel guitar over the master and agreed but the stones decided not to use the remaster but gave Gram permission to release the song as payback for trying the steel guitar recording despite it not ever being used. Gram said this in his own words.

[@arneberg9261]

"....keept his mouth shot" ---

[@direwolf6234]

'connection i just can't make no connections...'

[@stones8484]

I have never heared him stubble on one single word or repeterad himself.

[@Staylogical]

I sense some serious resentment from clean living fucks who know they'll never live as long as Keith or accomplish as much as he has in his life.There should be a big picture of Keith having a smoke and whiskey in every gym when he turns 80 shortly.Not an ounce of fat on him.

[@alanoneill3065]

"kept his mouth shut"?????

[@sk8taway]

Weird comment

[@paolo-n2000]

@@sk8taway - for sure...

[@thomassawicki2065]

Richards lies when he said Gram Parsons did not influence the Stones. What did they know about country music ?

[@haroldarmstrong8285]

Keith, I’d like to ask you one question if you will, please? Did Gram finally figure that alcohol and drugs would be the only way that he would get his full dues by just killing himself? I will always wonder because he appeared to be so far ahead of his “time”.

[@margaretross9150]

I'm obviously not Keith, but his sister said something similar once. However, after reading his bios I think he had problems with depression after his disjointed, grief-stricken childhood. That last year he looked pretty miserable in most pictures of him except when he was performing with Emmylou Harris. If his personal life had improved, I think there was a chance for him, but time and luck ran out. Such a sad loss!

[@yuvgotubekidding]

Mega-knuckles!

[@BlindTom61]

Arthritis from playing guitar. I have the same problem...

[@andrzej8426]

Claun!

[@SW-fn7cl]

Just don't ask Mick...

[@wayinfront1]

Parsons lost his Dad (by suicide) when he was 12, and his Mum when he was 19 (boozed herself to death). Might have made him try to ease the pain via booze and drugs.

[@joefairweatherblues8511]

Didn't know that about his family background, how tragic. Why though was he asked to leave Nellcote? That must have been deeply hurting.

[@margaretross9150]

@@joefairweatherblues8511 His wife said it did hurt him a lot. On the other hand it got him to focus on recording again, producing his two solo albums before he lost the struggle.

[@RobHollanderMusic]

Impetigo?

[@frankiebutler2894]

Impetus. Plural is impetuses.

[@scarvymccargo]

Here's one for you Keith: You always look up for the dearly departed, have you ever looked down?

[@margaretross9150]

I think Gram's up, but he may have had some explaining to do.

[@MrNight-iw9md]

Gram wrote Wild Horses. I don’t care what anyone says otherwise.

[@jonstern7511]

Gram himself has told the story and was clear that the Stones wrote it. I see no reason to doubt that

[@leemadden3able]

No he didn’t Keith Richard’s and mick jagger wrote it there’s a interview with gram and he said he asked Keith and mick for permission to use the track on his album

[@raysmusic49]

Huh?

[@willardarmbruster8111]

What's with his right index finger?

[@quinncarloss761]

Joe arthritis

[@gregrourke4182]

Look at his other fingers! Arthritis, I imagine. Don't know, not a doctor. Glad someone else recognizes this.

[@NJcruiser]

Definitely arthritis after all these years playing.

[@nigeltailwind]

@@NJcruiser His right finger was injured by a piece of sidewalk slate. It's mentioned in his autobiography.

[@NJcruiser]

@@nigeltailwind Thanks, I don't have his autobiography anymore. Doesn't appear to have slowed him down much. Probably learned to play around it with his other fingers.

[@neilmccormick2064]

Gram not Graeme/ Graham Keith.

[@brendanlynch7912]

The correct word is impetuses though.Looked it up.

[@bloppysloppy4057]

"If only he would have kept his (Gram Parsons) mouth shut"...I wonder what Keith meant by that?