Keith Richards has critisised contemporary chart topping artists for relying on multiple collaborators to write their music and produce their albums.
The singers in the firing line were Adele and Rihanna, who often share credits with teams of co-writers. He was asked by Time Out to compare their song writing process to that of the Rolling Stones, to which he responded: “Well, they can’t rely on themselves, can they?”
Adele worked with 11 other writers to create her most recent album 25, and Rihanna’s Anti album is credited with 12.
He extended his tirade toward modern music culture in general, blasting television talent shows. He said: “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 want, good luck. You’d better learn to live with it.”
Richards has just returned to the UK following the Stones’ historic gig in Cuba. Next week, the band launch their major retrospective, Exhibitionism, at the Saatchi Gallery in London.
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