Credit: J. RoseThe 30th anniversary reissue of Keith Richards‘ debut solo album, Talk Is Cheap, hit stores today, and the Rolling Stones guitarist recently chatted with U.K. newspaper The Sun about the release, while also giving a status update on his band’s next album.
Regarding the new Stones record, Richards revealed, “We’ve got the first bits done and I’m looking forward to getting back in after [the band’s U.S. No Filter] tour. [Drummer] Charlie Watts is playing his arse off!”
Keith added, “I can never praise Charlie enough and I can praise Mick Jagger 99 percent of the time.”
Regarding his comment about Jagger, Richards explained, “Mick knows what I mean and he’ll say the same about me. Things happen between Mick and me because it’s just two guys working together…I love the man 99 percent of the time.”
Turning his attention to Talk Is Cheap, which Keith recorded while The Stones were on hiatus following their 1986 Dirty Work album, Richards recalled that at the time, “Mick wanted to spread his wings [by making his second solo album] and I thought, ‘Why not spread mine?'”
Richards’ main collaborator on Talk Is Cheap was drummer/songwriter/producer Steve Jordan, and he also tapped the talents of guitarist Waddy Wachtel and keyboardist Ivan Neville, among others.
“It’s great the album is getting a second coming,” Keith said of the reissue. “I had a feeling the first time wasn’t enough and that the record would hang through time. It’s proved to be true.”
Richards said the experience of making and touring behind Talk Is Cheap gave him a better appreciation of Jagger’s role in The Stones.
“I understood the pressure,” he noted. “My feelings towards Mick became, ‘Yeah, I get it, man.'”
Read more details about the Talk Is Cheap reissue at KeithRichards.com.
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