Keith Richards Says Beatles Concerts ‘Were Never Quite There’

radio.com ^ | July 19th, 2016 | By Annie Reuter

[Mariner]

Like everyone else, The Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was a Beatles fan, but he said they weren’t a particularly great live band.

“Musically, the Beatles had a lovely sound and great songs. But the live thing? They were never quite there,” he told the Radio Times

And while Richards was friends with The Beatles in their early years, he “excommunicated” them in 1967 after they became influenced by mystic leader Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, NME reported.

“He was a f—ing operator, a sucker job,” Richards said of Yogi.

[dfwgator]

My favorite live album is still Genesis “Seconds Out”. Steve Hackett was truly amazing and they really missed him after he left. Daryl Stuermer doesn’t even come close.

And Phil’s vocals were much better then too, because he hadn’t started to “Over Sing” like he did on the subsequent albums.

[dp0622]

lol

[wardaddy]

Common sense Sir Richards

And his wife is a beautiful peach bedrock

[wardaddy]

Is that you Lisa Lampanelli?

[wardaddy]

That’s funny but my thoughts exactly

I saw Aqualung tour and TAAB tours and TAAB was my first stereo wall show

They were so crisp

Ian Anderson was a task master

The Stones are in my opinion the worlds greatest rock band ever that I still listen to daily especially 68-74 era

But they could be sloppy live no question

Problem with the Beatles is you could never hear them anyhow except for the roof concerts

I tell you who was good too was Marley in late 70s

Edgar and Johnny Winter and Derringer together early 70s

Alice Cooper especially with Wagner and Hunter

[Scott from the Left Coast]

I saw Tull four times in the 70’s (TAAB, War Child, Songs From the Wood and Stormwatch tours). I was never disappointed. Am going to Ian Anderson’s current tour here in Vegas in October...haven’t seen him since 1979, so it will be an interesting time. I think the bands that didn’t do the drug scene (like Tull) were likely the best bands to see...can you imagine wallowing through Jim Morrison when he was flipped out on some drug cocktail...ack.

[sushiman]

“The Stones do suck live, except for Charlie Wyman”

Watts . Bill Wyman was the original bassist .

[Eccl 10:2]

Maybe you had to be at the show. Half the guys in my dorm had Live at Leeds. Nobody played it because, well, it wasn’t very good.

[dfwgator]

Watch the 1970 Isle of Wight show. I would put that version of “Young Man Blues” as perhaps the single greatest live performance I’ve ever seen.

[Boogieman]

Oops, I know that, but my brain must have been on a smoke break when I was typing :)

[sushiman]

Live At Leeds is considered one of the top 10 live rock albums of all time .

[pieceofthepuzzle]

“Is that you Lisa Lampanelli?”

I had to look up who she was..

[HereInTheHeartland]

John Lennon still owes me $20 bucks from a deal in the 60’s. We can collect it from him before the concert.

[dp0622]

ROFL. Gotta be 100 with interest.

Cousin is taking kids to see McCartney this weekend at Hershey

[wardaddy]

She loves Yes and prog Rock

I have a very special memory of driving over Ponchatrain long bridge from mandeville to New Orleans tripping on Nick Sands or maybe Tim Scullys early 70s Orange sunshine listening to Starship Trooper long version and the repeat instrumental under the moonlight with top down in a neon orange delta 88

A car today prized by friends of dorothy....

An incredible night

[wardaddy]

I thought Stones druggie beggars banquet to goats head was their best work though admittedly live was always sloppy

I never saw the Doors but Jims excess was part of the warped charisma though he did write most of the lyrics some of which were quite good

Southern rock guys were self conscious about recreating studio sound

Both Van Zandt and the Allmans

Another good recreator on stage was Steve Winwood

Clapton not so much

Some of the punch out bands were good onstage

Black Sabbath

Van Halen excellent on stage even in big venues

If one likes grateful dead and they are behaving relatively speaking

They are better live

I saw Husker Dü and the Jesus and Mary chain in 87 and the Chain were perfect live

I saw Depeche Mode kick into Route 66 in 86 at the China Club with Bowie coming up from the audience

Nailed it

Talking Heads and INXS same era and again great live

Zepplin live?

Not so good

Fleetwood Mac during the Bob Welch Heroes Bare Trees Future Games days

Again perfection

Ted Nugent 1976.....110%

The Animals and Vanilla Fudge 1967 at the old Armory

Poor sound but they played great

[Pelham]

“Is that you Lisa Lampanelli?”

I had to look her up, too.

[Vaden]

He’s right, but he has no room to talk. The Beatles were not especially good live. The Stones were hit or miss. During their worst drug days they couldn’t play either. Mick slurred the lyrics for 10 years. However, when they tried they couldn’t hardly be beaten. Stones classics are the best-Dead Flowers (imo the best country rock song ever), Honky Tonk Women, Gimme Shelter, Tumbling Dice, on and on. You just can’t lick ‘em.

[Mr. Mojo]

I can see how Lucy + Yes + driving over Ponch would be memorable.

Saw them once, in ‘79. Blazed on sativa. Tormato tour. In the round. Return of Wakeman. Helluva show.

Lost interest in them not long after that.

Underrated album — Relayer (’74).

[Mr. Mojo]

"But the live thing? They were never quite there,” he told the Radio Times

Well they did stop touring in what, '66? Only played live once after that that I know of, on the roof of Apple Records headquarters. Impromptu. Chronicled in the film Let it Be. They looked and sounded pretty damn good to me.