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The Rolling Stones<\/a>‘ Keith Richards<\/a> reflected on how arthritis has forced him to change his approach to playing guitar in a new interview with\u00a0Guitar World<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n The\u00a082-year-old riff\u00a0maestro\u00a0admitted he plays fewer notes\u00a0these days for one simple reason: “I’m not as fast as I used to be.” Yet\u00a0Richards’ physical limitations have also given him a new perspective on his instrument.<\/p>\n “At my age, what I find most interesting about the guitar is you can compensate for certain disabilities and nimbleness and find other ways of getting around the problem,” he said. “And it teaches you another thing \u2013 you never stop learning with the damn thing. I love it, and it’s my friend forever.”<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Rolling Stones Albums Ranked Worst to Best<\/a><\/p>\n Richards also detailed some of the guitar modifications that he’s embraced to make playing with\u00a0his condition easier. “Well, I do have arthritis and very large knuckles,” he explained. “They don’t hurt, but it does get in the way sometimes. I’m going for a wider fingerboard for that reason.”<\/p>\n Ultimately, the guitarist is trying to give himself grace and keep sight of the joy of playing.<\/p>\n “Honestly, I just look at my hands, and my hands look at me, and we say, ‘Well, let\u2019s see what we can do today,'” Richards said. “And that’s the way I play guitar. I look at it and say, ‘We’ve got nothing else to do. Come here. I love you!'”<\/p>\n The Rolling Stones most recently toured in 2024, traipsing across North America in support of their 2023 album\u00a0Hackney Diamonds<\/a><\/em>. Andrew Watt<\/a>, who produced the album, confirmed<\/a> last year that the band is working on new material, though he couldn’t divulge specifics.<\/p>\n “I’ve said it before, but it’s like working for Batman,” Watt told Rolling Stone<\/em>. “When the tongue is up in the air, you just go … I can say we did some recording together, but that’s all I can say.”<\/p>\n Richards’ son, Marlon, offered slightly more detail about the Stones’ current project. “I guess an album \u2013 they have enough left over from the last one,”\u00a0he said. “They gave them a\u00a0Grammy, so now they’re all hyped up on that: ‘Oh, yeah \u2013 we can do another one like that! We’ve got more like that if you want …’ I think they’re doing the follow-up.”<\/p>\n Check out our ranking of Rolling Stones solo albums below:<\/em><\/p>\n They didn’t necessarily become huge commercial or critical hits, but some produced career-changing moments anyway.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Nick DeRiso<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nKeith Richards to His Guitar: ‘Well, Let’s See What We Can Do Today’<\/h3>\n
Are the Rolling Stones Working on a New Album?<\/h3>\n
Rolling Stones Solo Albums Ranked <\/h2>\n