Johnny Depp & Keith Richards: Pirates of the Caribbean's Blood Brothers

DEPP: It doesn't feel any different than anything I've ever done. It's just that more people saw this movie and liked this character. I was shocked and touched by it.

How do you define Captain Jack's appeal?
DEPP: I think it's pure irreverence, you know, that he's kind of the trickster.

RICHARDS: He represents potential freedom, to break out of the bounds.

When did Keith figure into your thinking about how to play this character?
DEPP: You think, "Who's the greatest rock & roll star? Who's that charismatic and interesting?" And you go, "Oh, fuck, it's Keith, isn't it? It's Keith."

In your opinion, who does the best Keith imitation? Mick did a pretty good Keith on Saturday Night Live."
RICHARDS: Some time ago, yeah. The only other one is the man sitting right here. There's been loads of wanna-be's. But it's all posing with a guitar. And not playing right, not looking right, so not being me. It's amazing so many people would try to emulate me. Really, it's just in the bones and in the moves. You don't know what attracts people to what you do.

Growing up, Keith, weren't you a fan of singing cowboy Roy Rogers?
RICHARDS: Oh, yeah, Roy was great. He could shoot, play the guitar and ride a great horse. What more do you want?

When did you turn to the dark side and go toward the pirates?
RICHARDS: That came naturally later. You get an image that is like a ball and chain. You can clean up your act and become like, "Oh, how Christian," but still you drag your whole life behind you.

Johnny, didn't you have a negative reaction early on from studio executives as you started to create the character of Jack Sparrow?
DEPP: The first month or so on Pirates 1, they all thought I'd lost my fucking mind.

RICHARDS: No, the opening with you standing on the sinking ship was "I couldn't have done it better meself."

So you have seen the movie, Keith?
RICHARDS: Oh, shit, yeah. How can you not with your grandkids around? I saw it when Pirates 1 came out. Pirates 2 I did fall asleep in, but I'd been up for three days.

DEPP:I might have fallen asleep myself.

Keith, did you recognize anything similar right away between you and the character?
RICHARDS: He gave me a call when he started doing promos for Pirates 1: "Before you read this shit, I have got to say that I did base certain parts of my character on you." Well, thanks, Johnny, for letting me know. Otherwise I would have sued your ass [laughs].

And when did you get the thought, Johnny, to ask Keith to be your father onscreen?
DEPP: We had dinner in New York, hanging out, right after Pirates. I was never sure that he would even go for it.

RICHARDS: I had a week off, Johnny.

DEPP: Time well spent.

RICHARDS: Yeah, the rest of the Stones are kicking their asses back, and I'm a pirate. Just something different to do. I don't know if I can really pull it or not. Either that or it would be one line and out.

How is he doing?
DEPP: Fucking great, man. Two-take Richards.

Frank Sinatra supposedly had the patience for only one take when he was acting.
RICHARDS: Yeah, but he was a motherfucker.

DEPP: I don't think Sinatra ever stopped to hit his mark. He would walk out of frame -- done.

Johnny, has the huge success of the first two Pirates movies surprised you? DEPP: It surprised the shit out of me, because I'm used to about eighteen people seeing my movies.

And what, if anything, can you tell us about the third movie? RICHARDS: You're looking at it now [points to his costume].

This is as close as you'll ever be, Keith, to being a Disney character.
RICHARDS: I'm the next Mickey Mouse -- look out.

DEPP: Mickey Mouse with dreads.

Johnny, you never opened for the Stones. Iggy Pop was as close as you got.
DEPP: Yeah, yeah, when I was a Kid.

Tell me what Stones records connected with you the most.
DEPP: I was a fan of the early stuff.

RICHARDS: I always hate to pick this one or that one. I mean, as opposed to just, like, rumble away in the background. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what it's about.

DEPP: I've always had a tendency toward Keith's tracks: "Before They Make Me Run," "Little T&A." As a guitar player, he was a god. As he still is. Don't tell him.

Do you on any level consider yourself a failed rock star?
DEPP: Worse than that, I'm a failed musician. Music was my life, my first love.

RICHARDS: He's got one of the best guitar collections, very eclectic.

DEPP: There are some nice old L1s.

Keith, haven't you been wearing a skull ring and other pirate regalia since the "X-pensive Winos" era?
RICHARDS: Since the late Sixties, early Seventies. I have a very good friend who also makes my handcuffs, but I can't show you because they are under this goddamn pirate shirt.

Over the years, some of the best quotes have been attributed to you. One was "I fly under no flag. I'm a musician." Which to me is the pirate ethos.
RICHARDS: Shit, if I didn't have a guitar, I'd have a boat.

DEPP: I'd do it in a Maserati.

Do you think you have to be a bit of a pirate to survive in the music business?
RICHARDS: The music business has never been any different. It's a pool of piranhas. You want to get in there? You better not be tasty.

>>This is an excerpt from the latest issue of Rolling Stone, on stands until June 1st.

>> Check out our exclusive video with Peter Travers about the making of "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" and the on-set chemistry between Keith Richards and Johnny Depp.