Keith Richards, the iconic Rolling Stones guitarist, has become a great-grandfather for the first time. His great-granddaughter, Luna Richards-Von Bismarck, was born in May 2024, according to The Guardian and La Vanguardia. Richards expressed his excitement during a video call from the Hit Factory in New York: ‘This is true! This is true!’

Family and Lifestyle

Richards shared insights into his evolving family life, noting that he has eight grandchildren and is now the proud great-grandfather of one. ‘I try to let them hang with me for as long as humanly possible, then I hand ’em back,’ he said. The new arrival, Luna, is the daughter of Richards’s granddaughter Ella Richards and her partner Sascha von Bismarck, who comes from an aristocratic European family.

Richards, now 82, has made significant lifestyle changes over the years. He quit smoking six years ago and admitted to slowing down in order to ‘keep going.’ ‘I tend to listen to my body just before it screamed for help,’ he said. He also noted that he was once thought to be on the verge of early death due to years of chemical and alcoholic abuse.

Working with the Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are preparing to release a new album, Foreign Tongues, marking their 25th studio album and following Hackney Diamonds (2023). Producer Andrew Watt confirmed that Richards now works on a more consistent schedule compared to his notorious ‘Keith Time’ days. ‘We worked very meticulously, with a little hit here and there,’ Richards said, acknowledging the era’s drug culture but emphasizing that it wasn’t as chaotic as some remember.

Richards reflected on the band’s past, noting that the 1960s and 1970s were ‘wide open’ for drug use. However, he dismissed the idea that the band was ‘befogged’ by drugs. ‘It’s the one job where you can get away with it,’ he said. ‘I’m not driving, you know.’

Personal Tragedies and Musical Influences

Richards has faced profound personal losses, including the death of his infant son, Tara, in 1976. The child, born prematurely to Richards and his then-partner Anita Pallenberg, died while the guitarist was on tour in France. The tragedy occurred during a particularly intense time in the band’s history, marked by both musical brilliance and personal turmoil. Richards performed with the band that same night, according to LOS40, despite the emotional weight of the event.

On a more positive note, Richards has consistently praised Bob Dylan, whom he called ‘one of the greatest composers of my generation.’ During the 2016 Desert Trip Festival, Richards expressed his admiration for Dylan, saying: ‘I would work with Bob in the hell or in the heaven. I love him,’ according to Indie Hoy. Richards also highlighted the genuine connection between musicians during the event, which featured Paul McCartney, Neil Young, and others.