Keith Richards won't miss Elton John 'at all' after singer's retirement

WLOS ^ | 3/1/18 | Worldwide Entertainment New Network

[Rebelbase]

(WENN) -Keith Richards won't miss his rock rivalry with Elton John when the veteran singer retires from performing.

The British stars feuded for years, and have often exchanged insults in the press - with Elton, 70, once saying Keith, 74, looked like a "monkey with arthritis".

Although their relationship has thawed somewhat in recent years, The Rolling Stones rocker tells Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper that he won't miss the Rocket Man musician "at all" when he retires from live performances after a final three-year tour. He also thinks that Elton's departure from the live music scene means there's "more room" for his band.

Mocking his rival's dramatic announcement that he will play gigs all over the world before quitting to spend time with his family, Keith says, "After three years on the road with Elton, you would want to retire, too. I'll take his word for it." However, he did say of his longtime rival, "He's a lovable old dear. He's softening with age."

Elton's harshest words towards Keith came in 1997 after Keith criticised him for re-recording his 1973 tribute to Marilyn Monroe, Candle in the Wind, in memory of Princess Diana.

"I'm glad I've given up drugs and alcohol," he told the New York Daily News. "It would be awful to be like Keith Richards. He's pathetic, poor thing. It's like a monkey with arthritis, trying to go onstage and look young. I have great respect for the Stones but they would have been better if they had thrown Keith out 15 years ago...I just think he's an a**hole and I have for a long time."

[Federal46]

I’ve seen both in their Prime in the early seventies and again later on and the stones were way better than Elton John.

[doorgunner69]

"I'm glad I've given up drugs and alcohol,",

But not buggery and being buggered, of course.

[Boogieman]

Hmm. Looked it up, and apparently it was a photo by an established artist:

“Goldin’s “Klara and Edda Belly-Dancing” depicts two young girls, one of whom is lying down with her legs spread open.”

Since it featured young girls, I think we can safely say it held no prurient interest for Elton John.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

One could say honestly that , for both of them, their best work is thirty years in the past.

Better still, fifty years in the future.

[napscoordinator]

Elton puts on a hell of a concert. Saw him in South Korea when he played for the troops. Had the red piano and all.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Very well. But for some people with certain proclivities, I tend to maintain my sneaking suspicions. I certainly wouldn’t hire him as a babysitter regardless of possible “discrimination” lawsuits. Sometimes discrimination is a good thing.

[Fair Paul]

So do the Stones, they can still bring it. I saw them at the Desert Trip concert weekend in 2016 in California. Mick must have walked three or four miles going back and forth on the stage.

[Jolla]

As was so eloquently stated in Oh Brother where art Thou:

There ain’t no accounting for taste. Both are very good shows I saw both the in the 80s and 00s

[CommerceComet]

I’d expect a catty spat out of Elton John. It’s surprising from Keith Richards.

I would call Keith Richards' response petty. He's had a long history of petty spats going back to his battles with the Beatles. I'm not sure that in this case there is a lot of difference between catty and petty.

[VietVet876]

For every cigarette you smoke, God gives Keith Richards another hour of life.

[beelzepug]

I suppose Elton has seen enough a-holes in his time to be a bloody expert.

[beelzepug]

“Without Mick, Keith or Charlie, there are no Stones.”

After Brian drowned and Wyman quit, I mostly lost interest in the group.

[Mariner]

Exhibit A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMjnzxo-x-o

Exhibit B

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRot9IjNSso&list=RDDRot9IjNSso&t=18

Exhibit C

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kl6q_9qZOs&list=RDDRot9IjNSso&index=3

[SJSAMPLE]

I remember when he changed it.
I just thought that the original was a mid-1980s song, and I’m not young. I bought YBR when I was a kid.

[who knows what evil?]

Bkmk.

[GnuThere]

Watch out Keith, Elton will send his husband to beat you up, if he’s not busy with an orgy.

[M Kehoe]

The most amazing thing to me is that Keith Richards is still vertical and sucking O2.

5.56mm

[dfwgator]

The most amazing thing to me is that Keith Richards is still vertical and sucking O2.

That's nothing, it's Ginger Baker that's the true marvel.

[Federal46]

I first saw the stones in 1972 in Fort Worth. It was not long after Brian Jones quit the band and Clarence white was playing lead guitar, he was probably the best guitar player they ever had. I first saw Elton John in 72 at McFarlin Auditorium SMU campus he was very good, excellent even. The Stones were just better, one thing we can agree on there’s no making up for taste.