Back with a Bang

I do [laughs].

But after collaborating with people like Rob Thomas and Lenny Kravitz, do you find that you do your best work with the Stones?

Not necessarily. You can do a song with the Rolling Stones that turns out not to be very good at all. There are songs you write that you wouldn't ask them to play. And there are songs where you know the Stones will play them far better than anyone else. It's all one creative process. Some things you like less than others. And you never know what that's going to be.

KEITH RICHARDS

What was your first reaction when you heard about Charlie's cancer?

Mick and I were at Mick's place in France -- we were beginning to write -- when we got the news. Mick and I looked into each other's eyes and realized, "It's down to this -- just us." Then I said, "For the moment, you're on drums, and I'll double on bass."

I don't think that, between us, there was any doubt that Charlie would beat it. I wondered how long and debilitating it might be, which Charlie answered in spades when he came back. He looked exactly the same, like he hadn't done anything more than comb his hair and put a suit on.

This is Charlie Watts' finest album. If you listen to the drumming, it's as if he came back and said, "A minor flesh wound!" When he came in, we were still running down songs, rehearsing. You don't usually go into fifth gear in rehearsal. You lay back a little. But Charlie came in as if to prove "I'm back." He played every rehearsal like a show.

There was a chance he would not be back, which raises the question: Who is indispensable? When do you admit that you can no longer carry on as the Rolling Stones?

There is a certain equation that ends up as zero. The Stones will make their decision about that eventually. At the moment, they're rockin', so who cares? This is something we gotta do. OK, shit hits the fan. But the bus is still rolling. You can't get off this machine, except when the wheels fall off. And we'll all know when that happens.

[Excerpt From Issue 983 — September 22, 2005]

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