Keef's bio

So Tolstoy to Keith Richards. Nice. I'm enjoying his autobiography. The early life stuff was interesting, but it really heats up (as you would expect) when the music part kicks in. The commitment of these guys, who were from nothing, was pretty amazing. Living together in shaky circumstances all in the interest of being an authentic blues band. Wow. The level of commitment is astonishing. But, I guess that is what it takes when you get down to it. If you want something, and can identify that at an early enough age, then nobody and nothing should stand in your way of getting it.

The Stones had no reason to believe they would become what they became; anymore than the Beatles did. There really was no template for it. When the Beatles were banging it out in Hamburg, and the Stones were woodshedding in London . . . none of them foresaw what would happen with them. How could they. Then, as Keith says, in six weeks they went from doing gigs for literally no money to touring with Little Richard and Bo Diddly. After that . . . boom. In both cases, the Beatles and the Stones, they figured they'd get two years out of it.

All this to say it's commitment that is important. You have to decide what you want and how important that is to you . . . and anybody standing in your path had better make sure they are nimble or they'll get run over. Well . . . ok that's a bit too strong perhaps, but that's what it takes. Getting knocked about and rejected is all part of the learning process, it's all part of learning and growing.

The Stones got together and started playing the blues because they loved the blues above all else, and national service had just ended so they figured they had time to go for it. They wanted to be black blues players.

That's the key I think, to any endeavour: doing it because there is something inside you demanding that there is no other way. If you do anything for the money (other than business) then you're doing it for the wrong reasons. If the money comes? Whoopee! But that can't be the primary motivation.

That's my sermon for this Sunday . . . leave your money at the door.