Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Ashes to Smashes: That Kooky Keith Richards!
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 4, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 4, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Clearly, Keith Richards telling NME that he snorted his dad's ashes is huge news, or the tabloids just didn't take to the story about an appeals court making an insurer pay for a boy's breast reduction surgery (the teen is "burdened with unusually large breasts for a boy"). Though it has the better headline, the Post disappoints us by not whipping up some Photoshop fun - like Keith snorting something out of a casket-shaped urn.
Richards told the British music magazine, "I snorted my father. He was cremated and I couldn't resist grinding him up with a little bit of blow. My dad wouldn't have cared, he didn't give a shit. It went down pretty well, and I'm still alive." And since it didn't seem that outrageous for the notoriously hard-living rocker to do that, his manager said, "Said in jest. Can't believe anyone took [it] seriously." Whatever! He's just trying to restore his cred after the whole "falling out of a coconut tree" thing.
But possibly more shocking? Richards thinks new music is "a load of crap."
They're all trying to be somebody else and they ain't being themselves. The Libertines, Arctic Monkeys, Bloc Party? Load of crap, load a crap. Posers, rubbish. There ain't nothing out there that's worth shit. I listen to the real shit, I don't listen to bullshit. I listen to my shit, baby, Motörhead, reggae, Moroccan music. All kinds of shit.
Richards will be seen on the big screen as Jack Sparrow's dad in the final Pirates of the Caribbean movie this summer. And for fun: Wikipedia on Keith Richards' public image and private life.
Tagged
Arctic Monkeys
baby
Bloc Party
breasts
court
fun
Jack Sparrow
keith richards
media
Music
new music
pirates
The Libertines
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
In the mood for a pastoral autumn experience? Try Queens.
We went fall-maxxing at edge of town.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Published Oct 1, 2026 at 1:08 p.m. ET
October is spooky season at the movies in New York City
Horror fans, get ready to be horrified.
By
Emma Stefansky
Arts & Entertainment
October is spooky season at the movies in New York City
Horror fans, get ready to be horrified.
By
Emma Stefansky
At the Museum at FIT, an argument for dolls as the ultimate fashion influencers
By
Quinn Moreland
Immanuel Wilkins is upholding NYC's jazz history. He's also dreaming up its future.
By
Sonia Rao
Ever wish you could get paid to walk through a stranger’s house? ‘The Scout’ is for you.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .