Across seven decades of activity, the Rolling Stones remain one of the most popular and successful bands of the rock era. Their reign began in the early days of the British Invasion, seeing them shift from blues covers to genre-transforming rock and roll. But there are two genres of music that Keith Richards, an original band member, songwriter, and guitarist, has no affection for.
The Stones collectively paid tribute time and again to blues, which is recognized as one of the biggest influences in shaping rock and roll. In fact, Chuck Berry, nicknamed the Father of Rock and Roll, was a revolutionary blues musician who is listed as a powerful influence behind the Stones, along with Muddy Waters, and Howlin’ Wolf. Now, what musical styling is on the opposite end of this spectrum of appreciation?
Keith Richards has no love for two genres of music
In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Richards called out the rap and pop music genres specifically. Speaking of rap, Richards dismissed it as just “people yelling” at each other. He continued, “I don’t really like to hear people yelling at me and telling me it’s music, AKA rap. I can get enough of that without leaving my house.”
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This is in keeping with his views on the genre from 2015, when Richards also slammed rap by saying, “What rap did that was impressive was to show there are so many tone-deaf people out there. All they need is a drum beat and somebody yelling over it and they’re happy. There’s an enormous market for people who can’t tell one note from another.”
Richards isn’t impressed by the trajectory some modern music styles are following
Richards is one of a few music icons from the formative years of rock that isn’t impressed with modern music, a view shared by the likes of Don McLean, David Crosby, and others. For Richards, he dislikes what he sees as a lack of personal artistry – specifically in pop music.
“I like to hear music by people playing instruments,” he said. “That is, I don’t like to hear plastic synthesised Muzak, as it used to be known, what you hear in elevators, which is now the par for the course.”
“It’s always been rubbish,” he further said of pop music. “I mean, that’s the point of it. They make it as cheap and as easy as possible and therefore it always sounds the same; there’s very little feel in it.”
Speaking of modern music, the Rolling Stones have a new album, Hackney Diamonds, releasing October 20. It’s their first new album in 18 years and the first since the passing of their drummer Charlie Watts in 2021.
Do you agree or disagree with Richards about his views on music?
