We all know that one grandad who just doesn’t like anything (not mine, he’s a legend), and it looks as though not even the rich and famous septuagenarians out there are immune from some good old fashioned cantankery. In an interview with the New York Daily News, Rolling Stones guitarist and all around rock and roll demigod Keith Richards has swiped emphatically left on both heavy metal and hip hop, critically frowning upon the musical merits of both genres.
On the subject of heavy metal, Richards showed mild bemusement, quipping “Millions are in love with Metallica and Black Sabbath, I just thought they were great jokes.”
Heavy Metal: Owned!
Not content to rest on his crotchety old laurels, Keith then got his hooks fair into hip hop.
“Rap: so many words, so little said. What rap did that was impressive was to show there are so many tone-deaf people out there. All they need is a drum beat and somebody yelling over it and they’re happy. There’s an enormous market for people who can’t tell one note from another.”
Hip Hop: Dragged!
Nope, Keith Richards is having none of your shit, young people. Also in the interview is Keith venting his frustrations about the extended hangtime between Stones albums, forcing him to release solo work he never intended on (his next album and his first in 23 years, Crosseyed Heart is out September 18th).
It’s an interview that comes in the wake of some polarising statements Richards made about the Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album, calling it ‘a mish-mash of rubbish’ in possibly the most British insult conceivable.
It might come across as an unwarranted ‘old man yells at cloud’ moment for some, but you have to remember that Richards is in his 70s, having made more music both live and on record than you could have hot dinners in seven lifetimes, I don’t think anyone is going to begrudge the legend to have a few cranky old seniors moments here and there.
In any case, I am really pulling for a Nicki Minaj style response from someone like James Hetfield or the shitrat insane Lars Ulrich or, if we get really lucky, someone like Kendrick Lamar or (fellow senior) Jay-Z might go all in.
I’m personally praying for Kanye West to take off the gloves, but who knows.