http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/art....from=public_rssLife as Keith sees it SPIN DOCTOR: Iain Shedden From: The Australian
July 31, 2010
SPIN Doctor is hotly anticipating the arrival on his desk of Life, the autobiography of the Rolling Stones' enfant terrible Keith Richards.
It's unlikely his old mucker Mick Jagger will be salivating as much as I am, given that a lot of Richards's tome seems to be given over to taking the Mick out of his long-term collaborator. "It was the beginning of the 80s when Mick started becoming unbearable" is one of many jibes in Richards's memoir, which goes behind the scenes of the guitarist's hell-raising career and his quieter moments.
"For many years I slept, on average, twice a week," he declares. "This means I have been conscious for at least three lifetimes." The book, which is published in November, trawls through the many landmarks in Richards's colourful past, including his childhood in Kent spent listening to Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters, the drug-fuelled years including the recording of the Stones' classic album Exile On Main Street, his relationships and his continuing presence as the rock guitarist all others look up to.
He has been a bit quiet on that front lately given that the Stones are off the road indefinitely and because he has been sitting at his computer trying to remember all the bits he'd forgotten. Any fans starved of his distinctive chops can look at getting the new album by his occasional sparring partner Sheryl Crow. Keef has joined the American singer-songwriter on stage and recordings in the past and turns up this time on Crow's reggae-tinged song Eye to Eye. The album is called 100 Miles From Memphis and is out now.
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FROM the sublime rock stylings of Mr Richards to the stranglely surreal and ridiculous world of Aussie country-rock siblings the McClymonts. The sisters, who are about to embark on an Australian tour, are also scheduled to appear at an American rock festival next month, supporting none other than the prince of darkness, Ozzy Osbourne.
Not only that, it's the US's biggest bikers' rally, called Buffalo Chip festival, and 60,000 punters of a bikie persuasion are expected to attend. One can only have one's fingers crossed for the three young ladies in their quest to win over such an audience. "Working on the same stage on the same night with Ozzy Osbourne to 60,000 people at a bikers' rally is something that I never, ever thought would happen," said Brooke McClymont.
Perhaps they will be able to call on some of the other acts on the bill for moral support. They include ZZ Top, Bob Dylan, Kid Rock and the Doobie Brothers.
