LESSONS FROM KEITH RICHARDS AND THE ROLLING STONES
I’m reading Keith Richards autobiography at the moment..
It’s simply called ‘Life’..
(Ok… so he worked with a journo James Fox to get it all down.. but it’s still a great read..)
The detail of the memory may surprise you, but it really is written with great description of the post war years, his childhood and I am now up to the early years of the Rolling Stones..
SO WHAT’S THE LESSON?
In the winter of 1962 Keith tells us he, Mick Jagger and Brian Jones were freezing and starving in a grotty flat in London. Getting paid zero pounds for the privledge of doing gigs but spending day after day immersing themselves in the records of Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed and several other American Rhythm and Blues legends.
They would sit for hours asking ‘how the hell did they do that?’
‘How did they get that sound?’
‘How did they play that chord progression?’
‘How can they do that much with 2 chords?’ etc.. etc..
THEY WERE MODELLING THE GREATS
I’m only up to page 143 of 630 pages but already Keith has provided many insights into the making of one of, if not THE, greatest rock and roll bands of all time..
There it is on page 142…
‘Our first aim as the Rolling Stones was to be the best rhythm and blues band in London, with regular gigs every week. But the main aim was somehow to get to make records..’
It wasn’t about the payback, it was about the playback…
Interestingly, the Australian band Jet (who also have had incredible success) openly attribute their success to modelling the Rolling Stones..
SHOULDERS OF GIANTS
Which reminds me of the famous quote from Isaac Newton,
“If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.”
Which I now find he had modified (modeled, copied, evolved, stood on) from 12th Century theologian John of Salisbury
“”We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours.”
SO WHAT’S THIS GOT TO DO WITH YOU?
Who are you modelling?
What greats do you wish to be like?
What is your Number One goal?
How are you leveraging yourself?
What are you doing to optimise your potential, your talent, your income producing ability, your energy, your satisfaction, your joy, your love, your self actualisation, your bank balance, your LIFE?
Will you still have the passion Keefy has at his age? (He still talks with incredible passion about music at age 67..)
Check Keef out at the launch of his book..
http://media.theage.com.au/keith-richards-launches-autobiography-2027142.html
IN PARTNERSHIP
Checking out the video reminds me of another lesson from Keith.
He and Mick met at age 4 in Primary School. They had been musical mates since their early teen years.
They have studied and created music together for over 50 years.
They are a great example of 1 + 1 = 3 or more.. (well… over 200,000,000 records and billions in concert tickets..)
BUT…. AN EVEN BIGGER SECRET MOST PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT
On page 143 is an insight into an even bigger secret..
Andy Oldham had been a business partner of Brian Epstein.
Epstein had masterminded the Beatles image and marketing.
Oldham and Epstein had a row.
Oldham wanted revenge on Epstein, so he picked up with the Stones and used what he had learnt from the Beatles marketing to use with the Stones..
The Stones were the ‘anti Beatles..’ No uniforms. No neat hair styles. No ‘Nice Boys Next Door.’
It worked…. BIG TIME..
‘It’s all in the Marketing my Boy….’ said my old Marketing guru coach..
RECIPE
Take the talent, the learning, the 10,000 hours of studying of the Masters (Keith, Mick, Brian) and mix it with the marketing brain of Andy Oldham (who had stood on the shoulders of Brian Epstein) and 50 years later, Keefy is still going strong….
WHOSE SHOULDERS ARE YOU STANDING ON?
You may not want to be the Number One Rhythm and Blues Band in your City, but you may want to be the Number One Furniture Store, Tax Lawyer, Financial Planner, Car Salesman, Real Estate Salesperson, Dentist, Consultant, Newspaper Ad Salesperson etc etc…
Find yourself a pair of shoulders to stand on….
And climb on up there..
The Giant wants you to see further….It’s not a problem…
I’ve got to go now..
To get back to learn more from Keefy..
See you next week..
