Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist - Keith Richards on The Rolling Stones Roots and Evolving Sound

Episode Date: June 21, 2026

Keith Richards is an iconic rock and roll musician. He and Mick Jagger joined forces after reconnecting on a train platform in Dartford, England, and the Rolling Stones was born a short time later.   Willie Geist sat down with Richards to discuss The Rolling Stones latest album Foreign Tongues, the possibility of going back out on tour and more than six decades of making legendary music.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hey guys, Willie Geist here with another episode of the Sunday Sit Down podcast. My thanks, as always, for clicking and listening along. Last time we talked, I sat down with Mick Jagger. We brought you that conversation. So you've got to have the other half of the Glimmer Twins, his running mate for all these years, Keith Richards this week on the Sunday Sit Down podcast. So basically, the day I interviewed Mick Jagger, we do that interview. Mick Jagger gets up, walks out of the hotel rooms.

says goodbye to everybody. A few minutes later, in walks. Keith Richards, the great Keith Richards. I mean, just the very archetype of what a rock and roll guitarist is and should be and looks like. And man, we sat down and had a conversation about the Stone's new album, Four in Tongues, how much fun he had playing, but also about the Stone's history, his longevity. Told me I should ask a doctor about that. It was just so much fun to sit with the man who is exactly what you hope he'll be, charming and funny and pirity in all the best ways. Of course, Johnny Depp modeled his character and Pirates of the Caribbean after Keith Richards. We know that.

So, wow, just to be in the room with Keith Richards for a while and I had this conversation was a total thrill for a lifelong Stones fan. So, as I say, the new album, Foreign Tongues, but so much more. History of the Stones, relationship with guys in the band talking about the late Charlie Watts, who passed away about five years ago. So let me just get out of the way, sit back, and let you listen to Keith Richards on the Sunday Sit Down podcast. Keith Richards, I just had to say that out loud. I'm so happy to meet you. Hey, pleasure. Thank you for doing this.

We were just talking about the new album, Foreign Tongues, which sounds to me like just a great Rolling Stones album. It's blues driven, rock and roll. Does it feel that way to you? It did, and I'm really glad that it sort of feels the same way to you. because it is it is what it is. It's a stone's album and they're on a role at the moment since Hackney Diamonds

they've got a, they're picking up the force sort of. But anyway, it was great fun to make. Andrew, what, is a kick

up the butt. Let's put it that way. And also So, Nick was coming out with a lot of material. We've still had a lot of material left over from Hackney Diamonds, and it was in a way a continuation of that record, except us getting to know each other or at least Andrew Beller,

and you're just tweaking things here and there. And also, for me, Steve Jordan and Daryl Jones, which is the Stone's rhythm section. Yes. They're on this together, and I was really happy to get them in the groove. Yeah. I mean, Steve Jordan, who is one of the all-time great drummers, right, comes in on the untimely passing of your dear friend Charlie. Is it still a little odd, though, to look back and see that Charlie's not there?

Yeah, just blank. That's what I said to see. The only surprise. But, yeah, otherwise, you know, Charlie and Steve are so close, and Steve knows Charlie's love and feel that we, you know, we can play with. Sometimes he fools me. I do think it's Charlie was behind me. And he's not necessarily trying to do it. It's just a sort of natural feel. This is what we like. It does feel like you're on a role, Keith, which is you guys hadn't put out a new

original album in many years, almost 20 years. And then comes Hackney and then now just three years later, here we go again. Fuller surprises. Does it feel like you're on a role at the moment? Yes, it does. I mean, And recording is a strange thing. You know, sometimes nothing is happening or there's a lot happening, but it's not the right time to put it at. You know, you never know. There's all many variables about let's put a record out.

And at the same time, record companies are putting out all reissues. Right. Well, you know, we're not going to fight ourselves. So I'm amazed that we've pulled out. it off and I'm very happy. So this is like, yeah, there's a fresh, here we come again sort of thing. Well, we're happy you are. Here you come again. Is the process of writing music with your old friend Mick and making a record, is it much different now than it was all those years ago, or does it feel like there's still a fundamental relationship that makes the music?

We do it in the old days. I mean, obviously we were on the road together. We were writing all of that early stuff, you know, in my holiday, holidayans, you know, come on, we got a deadline. And now, I mean, we write separately and then sort of pull everything together and say, you know, well, what are your car? Yeah. Show me your wares. And I mean, try and work it out like that, you know, and it's at the same time, you know, when you have a new producer, Andrew was hearing.

stuff from out of the can that we hadn't, you know, we'd be sort of overlooked or, you know, this still has to be used, which was very interesting. And, you know, there's some, so there's a sort of continuity about it, you know, it was kind of nice, you know, there's Charlie's on a couple of tracks. Yes. You know, there's a sort of fairly seamless. You had some recorded drums from Charlie about five years ago before he passed. on this record, which is a very cool touch. Hey guys, thanks for listening to the Sunday Sit Down podcast. Stick around to hear more from Keith Richards right after the break.

Welcome back now more of my conversation with Keith Richards. Do you still, Keith, get the joy that you've always gotten out of making music, which is sitting in a room maybe with your acoustic guitar and working something out? You know, I think that's the most constant thing I can say yes out of. you know, yeah, music is it's better than jail. But, you know, you can put yourself in there and music will do for you

whatever you can, you know, put into it and find out. And, you know, I mean, I sit there sometimes and I have no idea. I never sit down and say I'm going to write a song. You know, I just pick up an instrument and play Buddy Holly or something. And then wait, and then suddenly somewhere, I'll have something there to be,

you know, that's an interesting change. And it sort of starts from little things like that, you know, and then you say, I've got to follow that sequence a little more. And then a phrase comes into play. And then that's writing songs, you know. That's amazing. It'll just come to you. Yeah, that's the way I like it.

I never chase it It's too hard to work Do you play every day Keith Do you sit with your guitar every day? No, I wouldn't say every day But just about I always have acoustic guitar You know, it's on my couch

And yeah I keep my hand in definitely You have to Is this how some of the great riffs You've played over the years Whether it's satisfaction Or start me up or all those Is that how those have come to you

Just playing? you're just sitting around on the couch and, you know, with an acoustic guitar and then you say, hey, guys, like this one. And if it's a yay, then we take it, you know. Yeah, it's quite a little, in a private little thing in a way.

And sometimes you call up Mick and say, I've got this riff that I've only got half of it. What have you got? Maybe you can fill in the other half. And so we kind of work like that, you know. The partnership that has worked for, I don't know, 60-some years, right? Yeah. Through thick and thin.

Since the sandpit. Do you ever think back, Keith? I don't know if you're sentimental about these things, but I was thinking about this fateful meeting that you and Mick had famously in 1961 on the train platform in Dartford, right? And he's got the records under his arm and it's muddy waters and Chuck Barry. And you say, that's my guy. do you ever now all these years later when you've sold out every stadium on the face of the earth and you're one of the greatest bands of all time do you ever stop and go look how far we've come i know i was a prey to british rail

but uh yeah the fact that he just got in the same carriage that that day you know there's a dartford railway station as a shrine to me there is a plaque there keith i don't know if you know that I heard, yeah. Yeah, yeah. I don't go back there. I don't want to cause us disturbed. Well, it's now a historic landmark where you and Mick got together.

But do you stop and think about, look how far we've come? You know, sometimes somebody doesn't mention it to you and you go, and it does get in your face. And I can't believe that. And then there's another part of you having done it so long where you sort of, you put the old man acts. And I say, you know, it's the way it is. But there is somewhere in between. There is a wonder about it, yeah. Stick around for more of my conversation with Keith Richards right after a quick break.

Welcome back now to the rest of my conversation with Keith Richards. How do you explain, Keith, the longevity of this band where you talk to my daughter. We can talk about your longevity. But the band's longevity that in 2026, you can put out this album, Foreign Tongues, and have it sound as good as ever. Your guitars and Mick's voice and everybody, it's right there. How do you explain that? I wish I would ask somebody else that.

I can't explain it. I would just say that there's a very, very strong bond between Mick and I that goes even beyond in a way that we're aware of. And I think that might be something to do with it. And then we've just been so fortunate in working with the right cats, you know, from Charlie. And Ronnie, you know, now I have Ronnie. You know, I mean, we've always drawn the best guys to us. And I tell you what, sometimes it's like a pleasure.

You just have to step. I say, I got to step up. Right. Yeah, right. So it sort of keeps you on your toes, you know, which isn't bad, you know. When you play with the best, you've got to keep up sometimes. Yeah, when you demand the best. You talked about your own longevity.

You have this funny line you say at the shows sometimes. You say, it's good to be here. It's good to be anywhere, right? I think people look at your life and they go, wow, he is still doing it at this point. What is your secret? If there was a secret, first of, I wouldn't tell anybody. And, I mean, I don't know. I mean, it's as simple as that.

I just keep going. I feel good as long as I got something to do, especially with these boys at the moment. They're really keeping me on my toes. And, you know, I mean, I've even lost some weight. Looking good, yeah. Do you still get the thrill when you go out on stage and maybe play that opening riff of Start Me Up or satisfaction?

And the crowd, as they have for all these years, goes wild. Do you still feel that? Yeah, yeah, you feel it. I mean, you feel it through the crowd, you know, even you are. And suddenly it's amplified by, you know, 50,000 thousand people, emotions, you know, it is. And, I mean, basically, that's why you do it, you know. Just love to get on stage and kick some ass. Is there a, I know this is a difficult question.

I was just talking to Nick about this. Is there a song when you get out there and play? you go, yeah, this is the one. This is us at our best. Oh, I know there are a thousand of them. This is really tough. I know it's too many and they're all different, but do you? You know, but sometimes when I wake up and suddenly ask myself that question, I say

Midnight Rambler. I'm with you on that, by the way. Just I don't know why it always always says this is the expression. This is what it's all about. It's maybe not the best song in the world, I don't know, but it's the role in Stones are their best. It's a great tune, isn't it? It's a great tune.

And Mick ends it by saying, I stick my knife right down your throat, baby, and it hurts. You can't go wrong with material like this. And we're out. Another game I was playing with Mick was there's this idea of the sort of Desert Island, the Great Rolling Stones album. People say, let it bleed or exile. It depends, you know, which air you. area you like the best, maybe, or tattoo you, one of those.

Do you have a favorite Rolling Stones album? I can't cut them up like that. No. I'd go along with it a lot because there's so much stuff from different times. And, I mean, there are the obvious ones, Beggers-Baronkut. I mean, if I have to pick, could I pick, you know, any of that stuff, could I pick this one? But, I mean, at the moment, it's not tried and tested,

so I can't throw this one into the mix. But I couldn't pick one. And then Exile on Main Street. Wow. Wow. This is a tough one, pal. Yeah. And then there's the story, the making of these records,

exile famously, you guys in France. Which is so different from the process for this album, when, as you've talked about, you know, it was of what, what, four weeks of this little room together. But it does seem like watching just some behind-the-scenes footage of you guys working together, the joy of being in that room together and making cool songs is still there for all of you. Yeah, there is some footage. Yeah. Yeah, because I think they filmed the whole sessions without even knowing.

So I see some. It's funny. It is. Yeah, because half the whole sessions. the time he's making jokes and going oh my god i screwed up and uh and then uh you know then there's the music and stuff and it's just the process of uh of putting something together and i'm i'm very same we also because we were working with stevie winwood you know which uh which made an all english band or at least the front line and um yeah which was a real pleasure

And because Stevie, I first met Stevie and he was about 15, 16, and he had a huge hit called Give Me Some Loving, I'm a man, and keep on, and

all produced by Jimmy Miller. Yeah. Who later was the same guy that produced our stuff, you know. Right. And so that was our connection. I hardly ever seen him since, you know. So it was really,

He was on stage, I remember, and threw some fish in the piano or something, because it was the last night's a bizarre story. And we never forgot it, yeah. So that was really great to have Stevie join in. The fact that you guys have kept that blues-based sound all these years, has that been important to you? I mean, you've gone through in the 80s. There was a little disco sound occasionally with the times,

but at the end of the day, you've been a blues band. You don't think about that. You know, it's in. And this is the way it goes. Right. Right. That's just it. Yeah.

That's built him. But I think for as popular as you guys are to carry on that blues legacy and to let people know, Money Waters and Chuck Barry from rock and roll, in some ways you're carrying that legacy. There's all part of everything that you listen to now and listen to before. There is something about the blues, which is like beautifully consistent. and has something more than just the obvious or the blues. There's a musical thread through it and through popular music,

even when it's not an obvious blues. You can hear the blues in it. That's right. That's right. It's the foundation of the whole thing. Yeah, it's the great American gift, man. Yes. Would you, Keith, like to get back on the road and play some of these songs when you guys are ready?

I'd love to. I don't think it's going to happen this year. Yeah. But we work in this record, I didn't know. But basically, yeah, the road or working this, you know, working by it again is absolutely, I think, you know, on the plan. It's probably next year. Great. Okay.

All right. Well, we've got millions of years. Exactly. Exactly. I mean, I don't sense any reason or. any inclination from you guys to step away. You're still going full speed at this point. Are you going to keep going like this? Sure. Of course. What else now am I going to change? Well, we certainly hope you do, man. Thank you so much. Nice to talk to you, man.

Thanks, Keith. I appreciate it. Great to see you. My big thanks to Keith Richards for spending the time. The latest Rolling Stones album, Four in Tons, is out on July 10th. And my thanks, of course, to all of you for listening again this week. If you want to hear more of my conversations with our guests every week, be sure to click follow so you never miss an episode. And don't forget to tune in to Sunday today every weekend on NBC to see these interviews with your own two eyes.

I'm Willie Geist. We'll see you right back here next week on the Sunday Sit Down podcast.