KEITH NEWS2011
HAPPY 68TH BIRTHDAY KEITH!!!
Everyone raise a glass and/or bake some shepherd's pie or bangers & mash in honor of Keef this weekend! The Stones released a double cd set last month including a remastered version of Some Girls (couldn't really tell the difference between the original, but oh well), but disc two which contained previously unreleased bootleg material such as "We Had it All", "No Spare Parts", "Claudine", etc was stellar. Highly recommended, ask Santa to bring it! They also released via download what many fans consider the best bootleg of all time, the 1973 Brussel's Affair cd with Mick Taylor's superb guitar work.
Sadly on December 4, 2011 the world lost another blues legend, Hubert Sumlin, who was a hero of Keith's. Hubert had just turned 80 on November 16th. I had the honor and privilege of meeting Hubert in 2007 and he deeply touched me and I was very saddened by his death. Keith & Mick paid for Hubert's funeral expenses and he was laid to rest this week in sweet home Chicago next to his wife. RIP Hubert.
The Stones reportedly gathered in London last week for a jam session...reports said that all the Stones were there and that Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor had also stopped by at some point, but I have no real confirmation of this. Keith was indeed in London, which is all I can confirm. Let's hope 2012 brings us some good Stones news regarding their 50th Anniversary Tour!
The Rolling Stones Some Girls Texas 1978 to hit theaters for one night onlyOctober 18th . To find a theater near you click here
Meanwhile Keith has been busy in the studio this summer and fall. He has been working on new material, as well as contributing to the Thank You Les-a tribute to Les Paul documentary.
Keith attended his wife Patti's Hung on U bag line debut in NYC last week as well.
Keith, Patti, Theo & Alex at the Hung on U bag launch in NYC September 22, 2011
Congratulations to Keith for becoming a Grandfather for the 4th time on July 10th when his daughter Angela gave birth to her first child, a sweet baby girl. Keith has been keeping a low profile, but he did indeed work on some Winos tracks in NYC so we can only continue to hope that perhaps we will see the Winos on the road even before we see the Stones on the road. Don't forget you can now Follow @TheKeithShrine on Twitter as well as on Facebook.
Keith had dinner with former President Bill Clinton in NYC in early June. When asked about Mick's new "Super Group" Keith said, "I haven't heard anything about it. I just wish him luck." So far, there has been no word related to a possible Stones tour in 2012, as it seems for now all the Stones are busy doing their "own thing". Keith will soon become a grandfather again when his daughter Angela gives birth (she is due early July). Be sure to check out The Keith Shrine on Facebook for more frequent news updates...it's easier than updating this web page all the time!
Today is the 32nd anniversary of Keith's C.N.I.B. Oshawa gig. If you have never heard this gig, check out this You Tube Link for a taste.
What has Keith been up to lately? Well, he's been busy for sure. He has raised over $138,000 for the Japan Society's Earthquake Relief Fund by selling limited edition tee shirts. Besides "Life" book promotion around the globe and filming his second appearance in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, this week Sonic Scoop reported that Keith was at Germano Studios in NYC recently writing & recording with Steve Jordan with Dave O'Donnell as engineer. Now before you jump to conclusions, there is no confirmation from anyone that this is a Keith solo project or even a Winos project.
For the naysayers and folks on various message boards who seem to like to bad mouth Keith, he is NOT in ill health and is in fact doing very well health-wise and yes, folks he can STILL play guitar, so lay off will ya? Everyone deserves a little break once in a while from work, even Keith!
And for those of you concerned about Theo, it was announced yesterday that her charges stemming from a March 1st arrest for graffiti and drug possession will be dropped & she will do two days of community service. Love to Theo!
"For decades, Japanese fans have been some of the most passionate supporters of rock and roll. Now they need our help." ~Keith Richards
So no news is good news right? Well, we hope so. There has been no recent news of a Stones tour, and rumors in recent weeks now are pointing to the Stones touring during their 50th anniversary year, which would be 2012.
Keith's "LIFE" is STILL #4 on the best seller list in the US-you go Keith!
Here's a nice little prize for those of you who collect high end memorabilia...the brand new Rolling Stones Pinball Machine from Stern. Cost? $4600-$6500 depending on where you check. Very cool, here is a link to the
PHOTO.
In other band news, Charlie, Ronnie and Bill Wyman are set to play a tribute show to Ian Stewart in London March 9. Mick just did a fantastic first time appearance on the Grammys last week, paying tribute to the late Solomon Burke. Bernard has been gigging with Tim Ries & Co., and Blondie is set to return to his homeland of South Africa to play with his former band The Flames in March (as well as gigs in Holland, Germany and maybe the UK).
Keith's autobiography "Life" continues to top best seller lists everywhere and people who aren't even Keith/Stones fans are raving about it.
Johnny Depp is working on a Keith Richards documentary which he says will have a theatrical release at some point in the future. He has shot 30+ hours of footage already.
Rumors continue to swirl regarding a Stones Tour in 2011-2012, but nothing official has been announced as of yet.
Keith News from 2010 HERE
Visit Keith's Official Website and order a limited edition tee shirt and Keith will donate 100% of all profits to the Japan Society's Earthquake Relief Fund. Keith thanks you for your help.
