Oh, he's certainly a train wreck, and it's pretty astonishing to see all of the less hard living contemporaries that he's outlived... but if you're a fan like I am, he's a great train wreck if you know what I mean. Great rythym guitarist, a character, and funny. I 've always thought their peak was up until about 1972, then they were good, then pretty good, then fair, then they ..well... then they almost literally died, except for Keith who died around 7 B.C .... I even like his voice, which of course by conventional standards isn't much of a voice, but it was good to hear the occasional Richards vocal to mix it up, whether as a co-lead on something like 'Salt of the Earth" or 'Something Happened To Me Yesterday" on his own in 'Happy' or "You Got the Silver": which is my favorite Richards sung Stones number. About a week ago, I was driving back through western Mass, not far from the New York border, after a trip home to see my family. I was flipping channels and got a Springfield, MA radio which was playing The Stones' "Memory Motel.' Now for me, it's a quintessential 3 star tune, but I hadn't heard it in a while and I guess it was better than all of this tripe they have out now on mainstream channels, or coming across an overplayed tune or some bullshit like Journey...anyhow, the part Richards sings is rather catchy, and although I don't think it's great song, I've been annoying my girlfriend by crooning those lines "She's go a mind of her own, and she use it mighty fine"..etc... If I ever got to choose a substance abuse all star team to go up against another team, I'm picking Babe Ruth and this guy...

You gotta admire his staying power, dispite all the stupid stuff he is still here. Robin Wlliams put it best when he said that the world could end and Keith would be standing there with five cockroaches.

I loved Keith's public service spots advising kids not to do drugs. They can't Keith, you already did them all.

Keith Richards may be a train wreck in the respect that he's partied hearty and tried every drug in the lexicon, but overall, I think he's a successful person. He's had a great career as a musician, he's happily married with two lovely daughters. He comes across as being a nice guy, too-he just has some rough edges.