Rock and Roll: Music for the neck downwards

Rock and Roll: Music for the neck downwards

Keith Richards, the legendary guitarist of The Rolling Stones, is often referred to as the embodiment of rock and roll. His gritty guitar riffs, rebellious attitude, and iconic style have made him a symbol of the genre. Richards once famously said, "Rock and roll is music for the neck downwards," encapsulating the raw, visceral energy that defines the genre.

Richards' approach to music is rooted in the blues, a genre that is deeply connected to the physicality of music. The blues is all about feeling, about expressing emotion through the body. Richards' guitar playing reflects this ethos, with his rough, aggressive style that seems to emanate from deep within him. When he plays, it's not just his fingers moving across the strings, but his whole body getting into the groove.

This physicality is also evident in Richards' stage presence. He moves with a swagger and confidence that is unmistakably rock and roll. His iconic image, with his unkempt hair, scarves, and sunglasses, exudes a sense of rebellion and freedom. Richards embodies the spirit of rock and roll, a genre that is all about breaking boundaries and pushing limits.

But Richards' connection to rock and roll goes beyond just his music and image. He has lived the rock and roll lifestyle to the fullest, with all its excesses and pitfalls. His struggles with addiction and brushes with the law are well-documented, but they only add to his mystique as a rock and roll icon. Richards has always been unapologetically himself, refusing to conform to societal norms or expectations.