Keith Richards wrote his first song imprisoned in a kitchen with Mick Jagger

Keith Richards wrote his first song imprisoned in a kitchen with Mick Jagger
(Image credit: Tonight Show)

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was on The Tonight Show on Tuesday night to promote his new children's book, Gus & Me, about his grandfather and his first guitar. He had some pretty good stories — about being punched in the face by Chuck Berry, for example.

But his tale about writing his first song, "As Tears Go By," is pretty memorable. The Stones' manager was tired of the band recording covers, so he locked Keith and Mick Jagger in a kitchen until they wrote an original song, Richards told Jimmy Fallon. Apparently it took a while, but the tough-love technique clearly worked. Richards is charming and surprisingly down-to-earth, but his daughter (and illustrator of Gus & Me) Theodora arguably steals the show. --Peter Weber

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.