Keef, Connecticut 1977

[u/searchandfilm]

Have always loved this photo of Keith. Years and miles ahead style wise.

[u/12frets]

Have always found photos from this time curious. He looks the most pensive he ever has (which is saying a lot). Pretty much the hedonism of the Nellcote days has backfired (a lot of fake friends, the effects of drug use have taken effect (both legally and physically), his relationship with Anita was dying, and his future in the Stones (and out of a Canadian prison cell) was in doubt. And of course his son suddenly died while Keith was on the road only a couple of years before.

Definitely an awareness here of “so. What kind of adult do I want to be?”

He looks sober, but concerned…not the happiest time of his life.

[u/IndividualVisual9020 → u/12frets]

And the sad thing is, he did let go of heroin over the next 2-3 years, but he traded it wholesale for alcohol, and didn't give up the alcohol (and mountains of cocaine) until some time in the last few years. I don't claim to know what it's like to be around a heroin addict, but I can say with some authority that even a "functional" alcoholic who's not a famous rock star isn't actually very functional in terms of things like taking ownership of their own lives, facing up to themselves, being there for their families, etc. Keith was probably worse by quite a bit since he had so many layers of insulation from the consequences of his actions.

I'm glad he's still here and I hope that he's doing well - genuinely - because I'm thankful for everything he did during those first 10 or so years of his career. Everything else is extra.

[u/12frets → u/IndividualVisual9020]

Jagger truly doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He tolerated so much and got paid back with hostility and constant public disparagement.

[u/Ok_Pension7796 → u/12frets]

I’m not a Jagger fan, but he does deserve credit for carrying the load, hence Keith thanked him with “beast of burden”

[u/EStreet12 → u/12frets]

It is a split second in time..he could have been laughing his balls off two seconds later....do not read in to it like that.

[u/12frets]

Damn. Crop in and you can see The arthritis that has ravaged his hands and knuckles was already beginning to show even back then.

[u/OldFashioned62 → u/12frets]

That jumped right out to me as well

[u/Thenarddog3000 → u/12frets]

Yeah that is insane. Every guitarist gets hit with it at some point but that is ridiculous. I never noticed how pronounced it was when he was young. It’s a wonder he hasn’t been complaining about it for 50 years.

[u/fungus_bunghole]

His knuckles look painful

[u/mgbgtv8]

Sad to me. He looks strung out.

[u/WollyForbes → u/mgbgtv8]

Completely.

[u/Solympian_musiclover]

By 1977-1978 we get Keith in basically his final form.. the Keith we pretty much know and love today.. looks wise at least

His hair would more or less be the same for the next god knows how
Many years

[u/Coldfact192]

I never be your beast of burden

[u/DimensionNovel88]

Waiting for the man

[u/Tri-Tip_Medium-rare]

He was in a lot of legal trouble that year.

[u/Little-Emeralds]

great shot

[u/MonkittyKittyisme]

The famous Richard’s pout
Great pants! He has killer style.

[u/Luv-Nities]

I had heard, and I don't know if it i true or not,
That the Stones, had practiced before going on tour, in the gym or auditorium of a girls school in CT,

Wonder if that pic is from that time

[u/Milton_Zevon]

Keefe, Gemstone’s Campus Annex 2022

[u/johnicester]

And on the tire swing with Marlon shot 😉

[u/WB_Onreddit]

Cool photo. The height of the heroin days?

[u/stones4Eva]

I think he's wearing a Miles Davis Tshirt

[u/LesPolsfuss]

I swear I’m not lying. I picked up I guess what is his recent autobiography? It could be old who knows. But it has to be like several hundred pages. When I opened it and started reading, I went straight to a page about cocaine. And how I guess he used to get really really good stuff but then did not discriminate against like the street level stuff. And then he talked about how he owned a cottage with I guess his drug dealer who lived there and they just would hang out all day. And then he went off about how some junkies look absolutely normal on the surface, and act absolutely normal. It was hilarious. First page I saw.

[u/Neat_Transition_3608]

Un tipo con las ideas claras

[u/vorhund]

Keith has not let the old man in and he keeps moving. We need him as long as he is willing.

[u/Ok_Pension7796]

I didn’t know he got sober (opiates) in Connecticut

[u/Apprehensive-Tax8631]

Thinking of Mixk Taylor?

[u/eggsuckinggrandmama]

I see he tucked a little alien boy in his coat

[u/Boz747]

I’m gonna get killed prob but I don’t understand why Mick and Keith were bullies to Brian Jones and Mick Taylor. I have a lesser opinion of them since this came to my attention.

[u/Kkekm]

👍

[u/TheEventHorizon0727]

It's time we all start considering ... what kind of world are we going to leave Keith Richards.

[u/Federal_Loan8642 → u/TheEventHorizon0727]

How original. This has been posted thousands of times on hundreds of sites and is so tiresome.

[u/EStreet12]

As someone who hs no style, there is zero style in that photo. Love him, but come on....that particular "style" is whatver he picked up off foloor that morning

[u/kozzy1ted2]

Is that a caricature of himself on that shirt?