Keith Richards, Rolling Stones Voodoo Loungue World Tour, Rio de Janeiro, 1995 (photo is in public domain, courtesy of Machocarioca)
“When you are growing up there are two institutional places that affect you most powerfully: the church, which belongs to God, and the public library, which belongs to you. The public library is a great equalizer.”
The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards: Rocker outlaw...guitar god...book lover
This will either surprise you or make you jealous: Keith Richards has extensive personal libraries in both of his Sussex and Connecticut homes. In fact, he has so many books that he once considered "professional training" to better manage his vast collection. Yes, dear reader, rock-n-roll bad-boy Keith Richards dreamed of becoming a librarian.
Keith and the Dewey Decimal System
Once upon a time, Keith was painstakingly arranging copies of rare books about the history of early American rock and World WarII. He was applying the standard Dewey Decimal classification system (possibly fortified with a glass of vino or a little ganja -- although he no longer does "the hard stuff" Keith is quoted as saying he's still fond of wine and weed). Whatever he might have been imbibing, he nevertheless felt overwhelmed with his massive book classification project, at which point he seriously considered becoming a librarian.
Can you imagine being shushed by Keith Richards? Or what it would be like going to the reference desk...and there's Keith Richards?
He'd probably be very cool about books turned in late; after all he once owed libraries 50 years worth of fines.
The Saga of Keith and the Overdue Library Books
Keith Richards Owes '50 Years' of Library Fines (Huffington Post)
Library offers to waive Keith Richards' £3000 fine if he drops in for visit (Mirror)
Rock on. Read on.