Keith Richards: Under the Influence

The drunk chuckle of Keith Richards makes me smile. This wasn't so much a documentary about Keith, but more about his music influences. If you're a guitarist or big fan of the blues, then you'll probably love this. If not, then you may find it a bit underwhelming as I did in parts.

The first half was a bit like hanging around a music store as guitarists talked about their instruments and recording techniques. I did enjoy hearing how 'Street Fighting Man' came about in the studio though.

The sheer scope of different genres and musical influences on Keith was impressive, as was his sheer love for music and rock n roll itself. The reggae and country segments were particularly interesting - as for me, the Stones were my stepping stone into the whole country genre.

Have you ever wanted to see Keith Richards and Chuck Berry argue? Well this is your chance. I also had no idea about Keith's proficiency on a piano - was great to see him playing!

By the end, you feel like you've been hanging out with Keith and he starts to feel like a good friend. A brief touching moment on family and love was a nice way to wrap things up.

If you've always just thought of Keith as a pirate or drunkard, then watch this to get a better understanding of the man and how gifted a musician he is - we need to appreciate these music legends while they're still around!

This is a great movie. More serious than I expected. A lot of facts disclosed. If you haven't read Keith's book, you really should. I see they are going out on tour again, I'll be interested to see the reviews. Watch it!

"Under the Influence" is an intimate portrait of Keith Richards, the music lover. It is highly recommended to Rolling Stones fans and music aficionados. After over fifty years of Richards's career in pop music, this is the film that finally describes the music that made the man avoiding all the sex, drugs and rock'n'roll gossip. It is a significant and welcomed change from decades of accounts tainted by a meaningless narrative of debauchery that satisfied the lowest of rock'n'roll fans' desires and kept many others hungry for good and true music story. The 81 minutes of the film go very fast in a journey that brings the viewer through the main genres of American popular music: blues, country, rock'n'roll. Richards visits New York, Chicago and Nashville and recounts his fascination for American music and his encounters with the legends that inspired the Stones, from Muddy Waters to Howlin' Wolf and Chuck Berry. The interview briefly covers several other aspects of the musician's work like song-writing, recording processes, solo career and the use of different instruments. The film contains also precious footage of studio recordings with Tom Waits and Richards's house sessions in Jamaica with the Wingless Angels. Richards in his short, sometimes convoluted, phrases conveys all the devotion and deep appreciation for what music can bring into one's life. A strong sense of the passing of time and mortality brings in another novelty for a Stones documentary and makes Keith Richards's testimony somehow touching. Great little film on a great music soul.

It's a Casual Affair, Hanging Out with Keith as He Talks About Discovering "The Blues", and How He and Mick Jagger Formed What Became "The Greatest Rock n Roll Band In the World',

Only Because "The Blues" had so Moved Them, that They just Wanted to "Turn-On" Other People to the "Pleasure"

Man, Their Motivation Succeeded Beyond All Measure.

Their Dedication was so Great, that "The Stones" Told the Popular Teen Show "Shindig", "You Want "^The Rolling Stones", well, "Only if you also Book "Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters".

The Show Reluctantly Said Yes (American Media and Culture were Still "Segregated" in Mind and Soul).

It Became a "Spearhead" of America's Musical Culture Changes in Attitude and Gratitude for Forgotten Folks who were Forced to "Paint Ceilings" and Do Other-Things with Little Regard for Their Artistic Contributions.

The 80+ min Show is Short but Sweet.

With its Main Focus, the Lifetime Love, Advocacy of and Affection For the Musical Contributions, and to Touch on Other Forms of Music that He Embraced and Included in His Prolific Out-Put that was the Engine that Drove His Career as a Performer from a "Labor-of-Love" Grounding.

This Doc. Is an "Elementary School" Primer.

Most of the Historical Happenings, and His Personal Story are Now Well Known. His "Book" is Simply Called "Life",

and has Keith Articulating His Personal Definition in the Common-Man-Vernacular..."Life is a Funny Thing".

While Admittedly "Wasted" a Lot of the Time, and His Image of "Him Walking Down the Street with Jack Daniels and Cigarettes by HIs Side. Is One He Can't Shake..."Image never leaves you, it's not like a shadow, it's there 24-7".

But it Certainly Can Be Said...Keith Richards did Not is Not "Wasting His Life".

The Infamous "Drug-Use" and Partying is Only Mentioned Sparingly and Waved-Off by a Few Sentences Like...

"My Father is a "Straight" Guy and He can't "Process" that His Son was "Busted for Drugs".

But He and Keith have Traveled Around the World Together for the last 20 Years. Keith Proudly Comments..."I enjoyed showing Him the World and He enjoyed seeing it".

It's a Casual Affair, This Documentary, and Keith Invited a Few of His Musician Friends to "Hang Out". And You're Invited too. But Keep in Mind that it isn't Going to Get any Deeper than...

"I Know it's Only Rock n Roll but I like it, Love it, Yes I Do!"

Keith Richards: Under the Influence (2015)

*** (out of 4)

This Netflix documentary has Keith Richards talking about a variety of subjects while touring with The Rolling Stones on their 2015 tour as well as preparing his solo album Crosseyed Heart.

If you're a fan of Richards or the Stones then you're obviously going to want to check this film out as there's some great interview footage as well as some behind-the-scenes footage from the recent tour. The biggest flaw with this film is that it's rather uneven and I'd argue that 83 minutes isn't nearly enough time to fully get into the mind of Richards. Part of the film is a promo piece for the new album as Richards talks about what made him get back into the studio with a solo album and he also talks about his influences on the album. Whenever the new album isn't being discussed we get the legends talking about his influences, other rebels of rock music, country music, the blues and what it was like being chewed out by Chuck Berry.

Again, this is a good and entertaining film but at the same time you can't help but think there's so much more to know about Richards and there's just not enough time here to capture everything. Still, it was great fun getting to see him in the studio recording the new tracks and there's no question that he always manages to have something interesting to say.