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(Credits: Bent Rej)<\/p>\n
Mon 24 November 2025 18:00, UK <\/p>\n
No artist is an island. People can try to claim that they stand as an individual, or possess a singular mind or vision, but the truth is that\u2019s a lie. Every artist, no matter what, is in some way inspired by someone else \u2013 there is no escaping that. Take Keith Richards<\/a> as a prime example.<\/p>\n By now, Keith Richards is one of the most influential musicians to have ever lived. As a guitarist, it\u2019s tough to find another player who doesn\u2019t revere and respect what Keef has done, especially with his philosophy of keeping things simple.<\/p>\n While plenty of rock and roll guitarists are out to impress, Richards\u2019 whole thing has always been keeping it classic and timeless. His ethos of \u2018riffs, not solos\u2019 defines that as he\u2019d rather write something enduringly hooky that benefits the whole song, rather than a distracting solo to grab the spotlight. In that same vein, he also shrugs off outsider help like pedals or too much distortion, as that too is all part of his mission to make things timeless rather than trending.<\/p>\n It\u2019s led to a decades-long career that has inspired generations of fans and players. His own peers worshipped him back in the 1960s, and still today, young artists coming up are just as obsessed with Richards as you have people like Devon Ross stating,<\/a> \u201cIt goes without saying, but his songwriting and playing were revolutionary for pretty much every guitar player ever, and he is the coolest person alive and always has been.\u201d<\/p>\n But despite Richards\u2019 own influence, he\u2019s never once tried to claim that it came from nowhere, or that he isn\u2019t the result of the work of others. Instead, he\u2019s always been upfront about his own talent and sound, essentially being a tapestry of his inspirations. He\u2019s also been honest that a good proportion of it all comes from one man \u2013 Chuck Berry.<\/p>\n \u201cTo me, (Berry\u2019s music) had sort of a crystal clear clarity of what I wanted to hear, and what I was aiming for,\u201d Richards said to the LA Times during one of the many interviews of this that had landed back at him talking about his idol. \u201cThey were having fun<\/a> \u2013 that was the underlying aspect of it all,\u201d he added, reflecting on Berry\u2019s magic. \u201cThere was an exuberance, and they were not too serious. What was serious was what was going down \u2013 they weren\u2019t serious about it.\u201d<\/p>\n It taught him to approach music with joy and passion, knowing that would bleed into the tunes. That was one of the many, many lessons learnt from Berry, as Richards would never deny that out of the entire music work, Berry is certainly the one he\u2019s emulated the most, or even copied. <\/p>\n \u201cI stole every lick of mine from Chuck Berry,\u201d Richards said as he helped induct Berry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He meant it as a compliment or to acknowledge Berry\u2019s influence, later telling Jimmy Fallon, \u201cChuck was a major influence, not just guitar playing but songwriting.\u201d<\/p>\n