Keith Richards revealed he does not listen to contemporary music

The 64-year-old, who famously claimed to have snorted his father's ashes - but later denied it, revealed what his message would be to anyone using drugs.

"Give it up, it ain't really worth it. I know the fascination, but it ain't worth it," he said.

He also branded bandmate Sir Mick Jagger a "power freak".

'Vain bloke'

"Mick's a maniac. He can't get up in the morning without knowing immediately who he's going to call," he said.

"Meanwhile, I just go 'Thank God I'm awake' and wait for three or four hours before I do anything.

He is a power freak and there's nothing we can do about it

Keith Richards on Mick Jagger

"He is a power freak and there's nothing we can do about it. I don't want to do anything about it. It doesn't make any difference to what we do," he added.

When asked about Jagger's on stage persona he said: "Excuse me while I laugh. He's a bit vain, let's put it like that."

"We want a vain bloke up there, don't we? Meanwhile, the band can go to work. Vanity will not carry a band. But a band can carry vanity."

The performer, who is currently promoting Shine A Light, a Martin Scorsese documentary about the Stones, also revealed he does not listen to contemporary music and thinks CDs sound "tinny".