Richards: Great-Grandad, New Music, No AI
Keith Richards, 82, Discusses Longevity, New Album, and Great-Grandfatherhood
Key Points
Richards described what being a “great-grandad” means to him, saying he tries “to let them hang with me for as long as humanly possible, then I hand ’em back,” adding that he’s been “grandfathering” with “three or four” new great-grandchildren whose ages he only roughly remembers—“two or three years old… or four… or one, or maybe five.”
In the interview, Richards spoke by video call “from somewhere in the depths of the Hit Factory,” the New York studio “first patronised by the Rolling Stones 46 years ago when they were making Emotional Rescue.”
On his substance-lifestyle shift, Richards gave a specific account of quitting cigarettes: he said that after years of smoking, he was “sat around with this silly thing in my mouth thinking: how childish,” which “put me off more than anything,” while also saying, “although I smoke a lot of weed,” and that “He’s not drinking this week… ‘but otherwise, yeah, in moderation.’”
A separate biographical detail included in the coverage: the article recalls that Richards “did every substance imaginable” and “got punched by Chuck Berry” before he “still going strong,” underscoring how long-standing (and violent) rock-and-roll lore has followed him.
Keith Richards, 82, has become a great-grandfather following the birth of Luna Richards-Von Bismarck in May 2026. The Guardian confirmed the milestone in a video-call interview with the Rolling Stones guitarist, conducted from the Hit Factory studio in New York — the same studio the Stones first used 46 years ago while recording *Emotional Rescue*.
The birth comes as the Stones prepare to release their 25th studio album, *Foreign Tongues*, on July 10, 2026. Richards says he is "not drinking this week" and quit cigarettes six years ago — a long way from the days when, as The Guardian put it, "general consensus was that Richards probably wouldn't live to see the end of the year."
Luna's Birth Adds to a Growing Great-Grandad Roster
Luna Richards-Von Bismarck was born in May 2026 to Keith's granddaughter Ella Richards, 30, and her partner Sascha von Bismarck, 31, an aristocratic photographer. Ella is the daughter of Marlon Richards and model Lucie de la Falaise, according to The Mirror.
Richards is characteristically vague about how many great-grandchildren he now has. "Three or four," he told The Guardian, before admitting he loses track of their ages too: "two or three years old… or four… or one, or maybe five." His approach to great-grandparenting is equally laid-back: "I try to let them hang with me for as long as humanly possible, then I hand 'em back."
How Richards Got to 82: Pacing, Weed, and No More Cigarettes
Richards quit smoking six years ago after a moment of blunt self-reflection. He told The Guardian he was sitting around "with this silly thing in my mouth thinking: how childish" — and that thought "put me off more than anything." He has not smoked since, according to outlets including Nebraska TV and News4 San Antonio.
That said, Richards is not entirely clean-living. "I smoke a lot of weed," he said plainly. Alcohol is now kept "in moderation." His broader philosophy is one of listening to his body early — "before it screamed for help" — and pacing himself to keep touring and recording well into his 80s.
Richards and Jagger Trade Old Tensions for New Collaboration
For decades, Richards and Mick Jagger had a working relationship defined by what Richards calls "jousting" — creative friction that produced great records but also real tension. Richards told The Guardian that dynamic has shifted. The pair now work in a more collaborative, less contentious way.
That mellower partnership is reflected in *Foreign Tongues*. Jagger has said 14 tracks were recorded for the album. The record includes a posthumous contribution from late drummer Charlie Watts and guest spots from Paul McCartney and Robert Smith, according to Ultimate Classic Rock.
No AI, No World Tour — Richards Bets on the Old Ways
Richards has taken a hard line against artificial intelligence in the studio. He told The Guardian the Stones are sticking to "the old ways" — recording together in a room, the traditional way. *Foreign Tongues* is scheduled for a worldwide release on July 10, 2026, following a launch event in Brooklyn in May.
A full world tour looks unlikely. Richards said, "I don't know if tours are possible... it's the traveling that takes it out of you." Instead, he floated the idea of residencies in cities like London or New York. The band scrapped a planned 2026 UK and European stadium tour in late 2025, according to Ultimate Classic Rock.
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