The Rolling Stones‘ Keith Richards has labelled heavy metal bands as “jokes” and rap music fans as “tone-deaf” in a new interview.

Ahead of his upcoming solo album release, the guitarist spoke to New York Daily News, saying, “Millions are in love with Metallica and Black Sabbath. I just thought they were great jokes.”

Turning his attention to hip-hop, Richards added, “Rap – so many words, so little said. What rap did that was impressive was to show there are so many tone-deaf people out there.”


“All they need is a drum beat and somebody yelling over it and they’re happy. There’s an enormous market for people who can’t tell one note from another.”

Jenn Five/NME

Richards will release ‘Crosseyed Heart’, his first solo LP in 23 years, on September 18. Speaking about the record, Richards said, “I had no intention of making solo albums. I always thought, ‘I’m a Stones man. None shall leave!’ At the same time, we had years of spare time and I wanted to work”.

‘Crosseyed Heart’ follows Richards’ previous individual efforts ‘Main Offender’ (1992) and ‘Talk Is Cheap’ (1988).

Keith Richards recently said that The Rolling Stones could start work on a new studio album next year.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the guitarist said that he is eager to get his bandmates in the recording studio as soon as they have finished their scheduled tour dates. “I’m trying to get the Stones into the studio,” he said. “But I don’t quite honestly see it happening this year.”

He went on to add: “After we do South America in February and March [2016], I’d love to get in the studio in April. But I know what those guys are like. When they finish a tour, they don’t want to do nothing!”