Keith Richards Says Arthritis Has Opened a 'Whole New Door' for His Music: 'You Never Finish School, Man'

After six decades with The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards is just as enthusiastic about rocking out on the guitar.

The legendary guitarist, 79, opened up about living with arthritis and how it’s affected the way he plays his instrument in a new interview with the BBC. 

When asked if the condition caused by an inflammation of joints affects his playing, he told the outlet, “Funnily enough, I've no doubt it has, but I don't have any pain.”

“It’s a sort of benign version,” the rock icon — whose band is about to release their first album in 18 years, Hackney Diamonds — continued.

"I think if I've slowed down a little bit it's probably due more to age,” he said.

He even shared a positive perspective on continuing to play as he approaches turning 80 on Dec. 18. He added, "Also, I found that interesting, when I'm like, 'I can't quite do that any more,' the guitar will show me there's another way of doing it.”

“Some finger will go one space different and a whole new door opens,” the rocker explained. "And so you're always learning. You never finish school, man."

Richards, who famously embraced a rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle with a great deal of partying throughout much of his career, has been outspoken about improving his health in the past couple of years. 

Last year, the rock star said in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning that he quit smoking cigarettes after 55 years with the help of nicotine patches. 

He later shared on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast that putting down cigarettes ended up giving him "a lot more air in the lungs and in the voice, more stamina."

In 2018, he also revealed to Rolling Stone that he "pulled the plug" on drinking, save for the occasional glass of wine or beer. 

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The British musician has been playing more in recent years, as The Rolling Stones set out on a 60th anniversary European tour in 2022 and are approaching the release of their first new album in 18 years, Hackney Diamonds. 

The band, which is currently made up of Richards, Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood, announced a new album was on the way and officially due out Oct. 20 with a special event in London in early September. 

The project marks the first record from the “Paint It, Black” hitmakers since the death of their drummer Charlie Watts, who joined the band in 1963 and died at age 80 in August 2021. Steve Jordan, who Watts suggested as his replacement, has since joined the group.

The Rolling Stones have already released several tracks from Hackney Diamonds: "Sweet Sounds of Heaven,” a collaboration with Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder, and “Angry,” which arrived along with a music video starring Sydney Sweeney.