Keef wakes up to plan Jagger ‘jousts’

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards has owned up to waking up in the night to write down things that might wind up bandmate Mick Jagger.

But he insists there’s nothing negative in the pair’s constant bickering.

Richards tells Mojo: “Mick and I joust with each other all the time. From my end it’s never been a fight.

“Mick’s a control freak – it’s necessary for him to believe he’s ‘numero uno.’ Most of the time I go along with it, unless I think he’s making a really wrong decision affecting the Stones.”

He adds: “We enjoy jousting. I wake up in the middle of the night sometimes and jot down a line. ‘I’ll save that one for him.’”

Meanwhile, Richards – who’s been in trouble for drug-related incidents many times in his life – is delighted to see marijuana being legalised across the US.

He says: “I smoke regularly, an early-morning joint. One of the most pleasant things to watch is a map of America where it goes green, green, green.”

He’ll release solo album Crosseyed Heart on September 18, and he’s considering touring on the back of the release.

And Richards says of the Stones’ future: “Will we record and tour again? I think we will. We’ll do this year, then go into the studio.”

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Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.