Intimate Portrait Of Keith Richards' Musical Journey in 'Under the Influence' Documentary

Keith Richards Film directed by Morgan Neville debuted at the Toronto Film Festival 2015

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I cannot believe it's taken me 10 years to watch this fabulous film.

Keith Richards Under The Influence: A Captivating Look at a Rock Legend

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Morgan Neville, "Keith Richards: Under the Influence" provides an unprecedented look into the musical influences and creative processes of Keith Richards, the legendary guitarist of The Rolling Stones. Released in 2015, the documentary offers fans a unique glimpse of Richards that goes beyond his public persona as a rock and roll icon.

This film has left a lasting impression on me. I am not particularly a big fan of the stones which is maybe why I found this biopic so fascinating and educational. The man Keith Richards, a loveable rogue on the one hand but clearly so much more, an expert, some might say a genius, than the “persona” he inhabits of pisshead, ne'r do well, drug addict.

It's a journey through musical roots

The film takes viewers on a journey through the musical roots that have shaped Richards' life and career. From his early days in post-war Britain, where he was influenced by the likes of Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf and Buddy Guy to his later friendship with producer and drummer Steve Jordan and Tom Waits. Who knew Richards had a fall out with Mick Jagger 1985-1989 and worked with another hero Chuck Berry in "Chuck Berry hail Hail rock and roll" the movie directed by Taylor Hackford 1987.

Blues and Country stars Hank Williams and Johnny Cash had a profound influence to his exploration of reggae, he spent the early 1970's living in Jamaica, the documentary showcases the breadth of Richards' musical influences. Neville's direction ensures that the narrative is not just informative but also deeply personal and engaging.

What sets "Keith Richards: Under the Influence" apart is its intimate and revealing approach. The film features extensive interviews with Richards himself, where he speaks candidly about his past, his artistic process, and his philosophies on music and life. It charts the story, in Richards own very wise and witty words of a crafted persona, his days he wishes he could be the anonymous rock star. He likes his position behind front man Mick Jagger, he tells us. Although the film follows Richards as he records his first solo album in 23 years, Cross Eyed Heart he talks about The Stones and returning "home" (he means to the band) to touring after 10 years in the 1990’s. The Steel Wheels world tour and album release 1989 was the comeback and began a roller coaster for the Stones that hasn’t stopped since.

Exploring his musical influences and creative process through interviews and archive footage we see Keith chuckle a lot, he tells us he plays the bass the best, and we see him at the piano, which he says he can’t play very well, “only with the right hand” I beg to differ and explains it’s where he likes to write. He talks about the guitar being an awkward piece of kit for composing and how he likes sitting at the piano, he describes it as a chess board with all the pieces laid out in front of him, a paint box ready to create. He lets us know that, “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,” “Wild Horses” and “Under My Thumb” among them – he actually co wrote all those songs.

“Life’s a funny thing,” he says in the voice-over for Keith Richards: Under the Influence, “I always thought as a young man that 30 was about it, it would be horrible to go past that mark… until I got to 31. Life’s a funny thing. You’re not grown up until the day they put you six feet under.” The guest of honour was born on December 18, 1943.

Throughout the film there are too numerous to mention quips, anecdotes and pearls of wisdom “No one wants to get old, then again no one wants to die young”

These conversations are interlaid with archival footage, rare photographs, and music tracks that have defined his illustrious career. The T.A.M.I. Show, the newsreel footage of screaming kids and R&B stars, the infamous Dean Martin Show on which the aging Rat Packer deadpans the audience with a smirk after they exit the stage, and the Brit pop show where the announcer dutifully introduces Howlin Wolf to the gum-chewing crowd and he kills it, really kills it – all of these moments in rock history we’ve seen before but not quite from this perspective.

There is that Saturday Night Live performance of the X-Pensive Winos introduced by Tom Hanks, with a younger version of pretty much the same crew who are making this record with him now, the centre thread of the film, Crosseyed Heart. And of course, Keith’s near-pugilistic encounter with another one of his father figures, Chuck Berry, in the Taylor Hackford-directed Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll from 1987. This format allows the audience to see a side of Richards that is seldom revealed in the public eye.

The Role of Director Morgan Neville (friend of Richards) is powerful, known for his Oscar-winning documentary "20 Feet from Stardom," brings a subtle yet powerful touch to the film. His expertise in storytelling is evident in how he weaves together various elements to present a coherent and engaging narrative. Neville’s direction not only highlights Richards' musical genius but also delves into his personal evolution over the decades. Keith travels to Chicago, where Keith stops at Chess (flashbacks of Buddy Guy rockin’ it back in the day interwoven with footage of him and Keith shooting pool. Buddy says, “I used to go to Chess and turned up my amplifier like these guys,” Keith sinks an eight-ball in the corner pocket); a visit to the now-decrepit Chicago landmark home of Muddy Waters (“Willie Dixon brought me here… I don’t remember leaving.

Buddy offers Keith Corn Liquour, sounds hardcore and then makes a joke about trying to keep up with Keith being a mistake.

As Keith continues to reminisce, (Neville's camera catures everything) Somehow, when I woke up I was in Howlin’ Wolf’s house”); and then we see a great piece of Stones iconography, footage from Chicago’s Checkerboard Lounge in 1981: “Mannish Boy,” in which the Muddy-Keith-Mick dynamic was laid bare and frozen in time, the entire performance restored from the original footage and with sound mixed and mastered by Bob Clearmountain. It’s clear everyone at the gig was loaded and in good spirits, and the filmakers cuts are precise and very well considered. It really flows, the story, the intimacy with the artist.

We see Keith relaxed with his friends as he works on the Cross Eyed album, jamming and chatting with producer and friend Steve Jordan, glimpses of his dog and his 2nd wife of 40 years Patti Hansen and mum to two of Keith’s youngest daughters Theodora and Alexandra.

In the end, director and long time friend of Richard’s Morgan Neville wraps it up neatly with a question about the old blues guys that started Keith up:

“When you were young it seems like you wanted to be one of those guys. Today, maybe you are one of those guys?”

The director metaphorically answers his own question by showing Keith’s melancholy version of Leadbelly’s “Goodnight Irene.” And that’s a wrap.

The reception and impact Of the film upon its release was great, "Keith Richards: Under The Influence" received positive reviews from both critics and fans. It was praised for its insightful look into Richards' life and its respectful portrayal of his career. For any fan of The Rolling Stones and music enthusiasts, the documentary is a treasure trove of anecdotes, music history, and personal reflections and equally a wonderful education for music fans who are maybe not so familiar with his enormous talent and artistry. Keith Richards is actually quite hilarious and endearing simultaneously, which makes this film an over too soon experience.

"Keith Richards: Under The Influence" is more than just a documentary about a rock star; it is a heartfelt exploration of the influences and experiences that have shaped one of the most enduring figures in rock music. Through Morgan Neville’s empathetic lens, viewers can appreciate the depth and complexity of Keith Richards' artistic journey. This film is a must-watch for anyone interested in the forces that propel the creation of timeless music.

The Fall Of Diddy Ciroc Vodka Made Him A Billionaire

Documentary series on Amazon Prime

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Who is Sean Combs, Puff Daddy, P. Diddy whatever the hell he calls himself lately?

First off the French drinks brand founded in 2003 now wholly owned by British company Diageo took back control after a lengthy legal battle in 2024. No surprise P Diddy fought hard, it was a collaboration that made once co owner Sean Combs a billionaire.

So what went wrong?

In the Amazon Prime documentary series produced by David C Brown, Steven Grossman and Jason Fine, directed by Yoruba Richen, Emma Schwartz and Scott Preston we see a very different portrayal of the charismatic rapper and music mogul who appeared to effectively straddle the two very different worlds of street, gangster, drugs and violence and the elite echelons of predominately white (waspy) money and power.

Puff Daddy definitely had ingratiated himself through music initially into the world of celebrity, status, media profile moving from music, to fashion, to branding and then the vodka Ciroc that made him a billionaire.

The series which comprises 5 episode is stunning and shocking in equal measure.

The episode titles alone, The Making of a Mogul, Empire Under Fire, Untouchable, The Fall, and The Assistant map out a Rise and Fall journey we appear to be seeing repeated by men in the public eye, using money power and influence to literally get away with murder.

And we the consumers are the facilitators, aware of the exploits of not just Sean Combs, there have been many exposed for the same behaviour in recent years, yet unable to resist their charms, eager to buy in for a taste of said money and power, we the public continue to buy in to the celebrities we love. It’s hard to imagine our heroes, O.J. Simpson springs to mind or Michael Jordan, more recently Chris Brown, someone who’s music I love as murderers, misogynists and wife beaters.

As a society we are able to turn a blind eye, overlook the really bad behaviour. I can’t say if I’d been invited to one of the infamous white parties I wouldn’t have gone. Even Usher himself joked on Howard Stern about his experiences as an impressionable teenager under the wing and guidance of the mogul. In retrospect and now as a father himself he said he wouldn’t want his kids exposed in the same way. And yet would he be the superstar he is today had he not gone through the P. Diddy ring of fire to get there.

The series is eye opening and scary in equal measure. Whilst focusing on the life of one man the really interesting thing for me is it’s more a subtle look, biopic about all of us for we are the one’s that exalted him to god like status, the machine.

Twenty or more years ago I was loosely involved in the music business and came across an artist, Jamal Barrow known as S.H.Y.N.E serving 10 years for a shooting incident, he was acquitted on an attempted murder charge, imprisoned somewhere in the South, can’t remember exactly where. He had protested his innocence from the start saying it was P Diddy who fired the gun.

He said clearly that the perpetrator of the crime was Sean Combs a co defendant in the trail back in 2001 and he had been stitched up and taken the rap for something he didn’t do.

The Washington post wrote in June 2001,

“ Barrow's recent debut album sold more than 750,000 copies, but the 22-year-old rapper may be most famous for his supporting role in the highly publicized trial earlier this year. On March 17, after seven weeks of testimony, a Manhattan jury acquitted Combs and another co-defendant, Anthony "Wolf" Jones, on gun possession and bribery charges.

Barrow, however -- while acquitted of the most serious charge, attempted murder -- was found guilty on five other charges, including assault in the first degree, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon. Justice Charles Solomon sentenced Barrow to 10 years for first-degree assault, a count that could have brought up to 25 years. Barrow was also given four other, shorter sentences, but those will run concurrently. The soonest he would be eligible for release is after eight years and seven months.”

I remember thinking at the time, true or not how credible his story was.

After watching the documentary series more than 20 years later it triggered memories of this experience and made me wonder how many other people might be locked up for the dastardly deeds of one Sean Combs.

If you have ever listened to or appreciated Rap music and never really questioned the lyric or the message this series will change how you see the reality of the movement. It was supposed to be about something so much bigger and so much better.

Margin Call

Movie on Amazon Prime released January 2012

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There has been quite a bit of creative content around the housing bubble in the US that caused the collapse of Countrywide savings and loan and Fannie Mae in the summer of 2008 followed shortly there after with the collapse of investment banking firm Lehman Brothers, insurance giant AIG and Meryl Lynch swallowed up by Bank of America.

Interested in the subject and the cycle of build and collapse of the capitalist system we have created, from the 1920’s to 1937 to the more recent crash in 1987, when I first lost my shirt on the stock market to the dot com bubble of the late 1990’s early 2000.

It has happened quite a bit over time, over and over again, something made crystal clear in this brilliant made for TV movie starring so many big names, Kevin Spacey, Demi Moore, Paul Bethany, Stanley Tucci, Jeremy Irons.

The story covers one day at one firm, and what happened when one risk management specialist developed a model to look at the banks exposure from current positions and discovered as one famous Citi Corp executive said, we dance until the music stops, but the music had already stopped figuratively speaking and global financial Armageddon was predicted to happen.

This movie looks at what you do and what one firm did do, effectively crashing the whole global market to save themselves and get out before everyone else.

“You gotta be smarter or you gotta be first” the news a cool calm

collected head of the firm says as he delivers the bad news to his board.

Written and directed by J.C. Chandon is his directorial debut his script follows the key people at an investment bank, allegedly based on Goldmans Sachs over a 24-hour period during the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis.

Even though this film is 12 years old, it doesn’t feel dated at all. It shines a bright light on a system that has over time been shown to serve only the few not the many and begs the question for us all what exactly are we buying into.

Very clever stuff. I’d absolutely definitely watch this movie again and probably more than once more.

Gripping, shocking and from a world order standpoint point very very alarming.

The Walt Disney Music Center Concert Hall Los Angeles by Canadian Architect Frank Gehry and father of design to Angelinos

Designed by Frank Gehry born 28th February 1929 died 5th December, 2025 aged 96

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I’ve been a member of the symphony in Los Angeles on and off for years. $75 bucks a year buys you a friends membership but for $1000 you get exclusive access to pretty much everything, priority seats, parking the works.

I remember in the early 2000’s ESA Pekka Salonen was the director of the Los Angeles Philarmonic (before kids) and we were at the symphony every other month.

Then like many we had a dry spell when we didn’t go at all and now we are back.

As friends of Los Angeles Philharmonic we went to the celebration of Michael Tilson in Saturday just gone.

Unfortunately both Michael Tilson Thomas and Yuja Wang had to cancel their appearances on February 1 with the LA Philharmonic as they were both unwell.

Instead we were treated to Susanna Mälkki, Edwin Outwater, and Jon Kimura Parker performing in their places in this celebration of Michael Tilson Thomas, now 80 years young and involved for over 5 decades.

Even though we didn’t get to see Michael, our visit was still wonderful.

I cannot think of another theatre anywhere in the world so impressive, in the centre of a metropolis but so quiet and serene on arrival. Not a bit like Broadway or the West end in London.

Like everything is LA going to a concert is a bit like going to Dodger stadium a lot of walking and a lot of people and the concert hall was almost full for the performance.

It’s an experience just people watching in the two tiered, glass fronted lobby before the start of the performance.

You’ll find the signature red velvet but not in the abundance of a traditional theatre, the building’s famous architectural design

Inspires fresh and modern whilst bringing both classic and contemporary production from LA Phil, considered one of the finest orchestras in the world under the current guidance of director Gustavo Dudamel who is also artistic director Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela.

ESA Pekka Salonen still serves today as conductor Laureate.

There are free guided audio tours available on the music Center website. Well worth doing.if only to look at the magnificent building designed by the indomitable Frank Gehry who died December 7th, 2025 aged 96.

Limegrove Shopping Mall

Luxury mall in Holetown

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Limegrove Lifesyle centre, such a cute name kinda sums up what you get. It’s luxe, high end for sure with stores like Vilebrequin for beach shirts and shorts and Armani for casual the offering good for guys who like to get in and out.

It’s on three floors, open air, escalators up and down and easy to navigate. You’ll be around the whole place in under an hour.

The best thing for me is the restaurant in the courtyard downstairs; we always go here, the food, healthy tacos, salads, absolutely fantastic, not stiff not too expensive and the service is always with a smile.

For the ladies, my wife likes the Mac store and as always in Barbados lots of gold and precious jewellery available duty free.

For second home owners there are also a couple of eclectic home design type places where you can buy a cushion a rug or unique gifts to take home.

If you are on the island take a trip, for a few bucks to bus will get you straight there.

Whisky A Go Go

Or just the Whiskey

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Found myself back at the Whisky A go go last night for the Riot 5 gig, awesome time.

For any die hard rock and roll fan this iconic club on Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood is the place to bump into legends.

It’s pretty small and intimate venue as places go so you get an experience like no other.

The band playing last night, Riot, now known as Riot V, they are heavy metal band from the US formed in 1975, really old school. What a night.

The great thing about this place whenever you show up, there’s always a band playing you might not have heard of but end up rocking out until the early hours.

This particular band has since released sixteen studio albums, four live albums and two EPs. It was good to hear the most recent lineup live, launched in 2013 under the name "Riot V" after the death of founding member Mark Reale.

The energy in this place is unreal. No where like it in the world for me. I don’t live in Hollywood anymore so always an unexpected blow out when I happen to be nearby, my old friend from law school says, quick one at the Whiskey, get to go in and before you know it it’s 3am.

McLaren 570 S Spider

Compared to a Lamborghini and Audi and a Porsche

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My dream car

Whether you love the sleek design of the coupe the speed of the spider or the fun colours and popping paint jobs this car for me tops other options in the Sports series entry level category.

Coupes start around £150K and Spiders £165K

The Sport Series hasn’t sold as well as expected. The plan for McLaren was to almost double how many vehicles produced for the road to 4000.

I am not sure why its popularity hasn’t matched the performance capabilities which is why I am such a fan.

I’ve owned a Porsche 911 and a 928 S and have driven a Lamborghini Huracan Evi and Gallardo and I still prefer the drive of the McClaren.

I don’t think there’s a good reason to associate the model’s perhaps questionable commercial success with its technical capability, it does drive and feel quite zippy and as the 570S has really set the bar for the marketplace at this level. It might lack the power train theatrics of a Lamborghini, or the inexorable quality of a 911 Turbo or Audi R8, but for me the combo of supercar aesthetics, unimpeachable chassis and that little bit of sexy appeal, I predict it’ll continue to be extremely seductive performance car proposition for anyone with £150K knocking around.

Treasure Beach Hotel

A small 37 room hideaway Barbados

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Our firm family favourite hotel on the west coast of Barbados.

This spot used to be owned by a friend of mine and I honestly don’t think there’s a better beach location on the island. Down the coast a few miles from the more famous Sandy Lane and Royal Pavillion, Cobblers Cove and Sandpipers Treasure Beach is the hotel no one knows about or certainly used to be.

I am going back in a couple of months to see all the refurbishments the new owners Elegant Hotels have made.

The prices at Treasure Beach are expensive about $3000 per person per week, however even though I know this is a lot it’s more affordable than the hotels further up the coast.

This stretch of coastline is the jewel of Barbados and one of the lovely things our family enjoy is walking all the way up the beach from

Treasure Beach to Sandy Lane.

We’ve never been disappointed with the restaurant food, one year a few years back the staff made and delivered course by a course a Christmas dinner to our room as my wife was recuperating and didn’t fancy getting all dressed up that year. It was amazing and privately very festive.

This hotel always felt before like you were staying at someone’s house where you were long missed and everyone delighted to see you return. Being remembered is a really amazing feeling.

The very best thing about this spot for me, the water ski boats come right up the the sun loungers, pick you up take you out for a few pulls on calm clear glass like water and then bring you back just in time to enjoy a complimentary fruit kebab.

I haven’t been since the makeover and the grand reopening but I’ll update here on our return.

FYI this is no longer a family hotel, adults only and I understand it’s now all inclusive, not a la carte. I wouldn’t normally choose all inclusive as we are not big drinkers and prefer really good food instead but really wanted to return to the property so decided to get over the all inclusive thing for this trip.

Hearst Castle

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MAKE SURE TO VISIT HEARST CASTLE

It’s not a castle in the traditional sense. Although in Hollywood style, the home of publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst could be described as a Californian Castle and is definitely worth taking a look. Even the ride up is fun and the views tough to beat.

The most exciting part of checking out this interesting estate is the history of the Hollywood icon’s Heart entertained here, the likes of Chaplin, Garbo, Gable, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr, Errol Flynn, Cary Grant, Jean Harlow and those are the one’s I remember off the top of my head. It was a long list.

They drank cocktails and waited for their hosts entrance via a private lift in the pretty amazing and extremely grand drawing room.

It’s definitely not a stately home, walking around it feels like a real home, like you could move in tomorrow. It’s intimate. You can imagine very cool parties happening, the ghosts linger and the movie theater feels ready to slip a reel on the projector so long as someone’s ready to dish out the popcorn.

The grounds are expansive, over spilling with bird of paradise and tropical hibiscus flowers, and equipped with enough guest cottages to accommodate duelling divas and philanderers not wishing to get caught in opposite corners but the piece de resistance is the fantastic and outlandish outdoor swimming pool complete with full sized Grecian statues, naked, fig leafed and grape strewn. I know it sounds tasteless and crass, not at all. The indoor one is pretty beautiful too.

The completely “over the top ness”, strangely, actually works.

For adults it’s 25 buck to get in, 12 bucks for kids which may sound expensive. Personally I really enjoyed it, an experience I’m not sure I’ll ever need to repeat coz I know I could never forget it, it's just that kind of place, out of this world.

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

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CULTURE, ARCHITECTURE, GOLF AND COMFORT IN PARADISE

I cannot tell you how special the welcome at this hotel was when my buddy and I arrived for a 5 day vacation to do some snorkeling and play a few rounds of golf.

Before we even set foot in this iconic 60's award winning building we were festooned with flower leis by beautiful young women and served potent fruity cocktails. These guys know how to get the guests on side.

If you can image the most extensive private art collection displayed as if you were in someones home, the collection of Rockefeller who commissioned the hotel, an open air building that is quite old style but in a very good way, sitting in it's own private tropical cove with turtle pools at each end of the beach, this is the Mauna Kea. Oh not forgetting the world renowned first class golf course. See why I said it was paradise.

We checked out a few other hotels as we toured the big island which is a complete contrast of bland volcanic landscape on one side and lush green tropical natural arboretums on the other. (The waterfalls and flora were totally memorable.) The couple of other hotels we ate at were typical 5 star resorts, could have been anywhere in the world, so we felt privileged to return and experience something so unique at Mauna Kea. I've have NEVER been anywhere like it in my life.

We paid about $800 for 5 nights which I thought was incredibly reasonable for the level of service and comfort we received. Couldn't fault it not one little bit.

Paloma Faith

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A BRITISH ARTIST HEADING FOR STARDOM

It’s been a while since I actually went out and bought an album. I download a bunch of tracks sure but the Black and Blue track hooked me in and i wanted the whole experience, cover art, lyrics, the whole shabang and I love it with a capital L. Every time I heard it on the radio, online, MTV I wanted to hear it again. I loved the Picking Up The Pieces track, the closer for me.

The album was released in May 2012, I had no idea it came out early 2012. I was tuned in when I heard the INXS cover Never Tear Us Apart, late 2012, an incredible track on its own, if you're not familiar they're from down under, but add Paloma’s distinctive sultry voice and it's a spine tingling experience.

It was a bit of a disappointment the InXs cover is not on the album so I picked that up as a single The album is stand alone. It is produced by Nellee Hooper who has worked with Madonna and Gwen Stefani amongst others. It’s a chill thrill masterpiece from a unique new British talent. Paloma is the genuine article, her lyrics have come from a deep dark place and I agree this stellar piece of writing is a beautiful coming of age story anyone who has lived, died (metaphorically) and come back for more, could relate to. It's grown up, modern and fresh.

What makes great popular music? I don’t know the check list, I just know when I listen what gives me chill bumps and for this chick it is an affirmative.