Keith Richards critical of artists using songwriters: ‘They can’t rely on themselves, can they?’

Rolling Stones guitarist says that modern music is in a 'showbiz' period

Keith Richards has criticised modern popular music and the prevalent use of songwriters in pop.

The Rolling Stones guitarist recently spoke to Time Out London and was asked his thoughts on stars like Adele and Rihanna working with a team of songwriters to write their hits. Richards replied: “Well, they can’t rely on themselves, can they?”

He went on to add: “We’re in the midst of a heavy-duty ‘showbiz’ period, even stronger than when we killed it last time. The X Factor and all this competition shit. It’s just for people who want to be famous. Well, if it’s fame you wants, good luck. You’d better learn to live with it.”

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In contrast, Richards stated that he wrote the band’s classic track ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ in “bed with a guitar” one night.

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The Rolling Stones will stage their first ever major exhibition at London’s Saatchi Gallery next month. ‘EXHIBITIONISM’ will open to the public on April 5 and run until September.

The exhibition will consist of nine themed rooms spread out over two floors of the London venue, and will have over 500 Rolling Stones artefacts from the band’s personal archives on display.

Responding to news last year that their poster for the exhibition’s launch has been censored in London Underground tube stations, Richards’ bandmate Mick Jagger told Time Out: “It was never my intention to make it rude! It’s odd that people are still banning Rolling Stones posters on the tube.”

The Rolling Stones played a massive, 500,000 capacity gig in Havana, Cuba last Friday (March 25), having had their music banned in the country as recently as 15 years ago. Manic Street Preachers later appeared to dispute the historic status of the gig via Twitter.

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