Exclusive: Rolling Stones unlikely to tour again due to Keith Richards' ill health

6 Keith Richards' hands don't look too good.Keith Richards on a recent episode of the Culture Show advert Keith Richards on the Culture Show Keith Richards Keith Richards

Keith Richards and his hands on the Culture Show

Icky Fingers

Sat, 20/11/2010 - 16:14 by

It was only a couple of months ago that we were commenting on Keith Richards' curious case of the Benjamin Buttons, but apparently all is not as it seemed... In fact, according to a mole, the guitarist's hands - and memory - are so bad that the Rolling Stones tour he's been recently talking about is never going to happen...

So, Keith Richards has been busy promoting his new autobiography Life (a bit of a worry for some since he's now know as Jack Sparrow's dad but chats about heroin), recently revealing plans for a Stones tour, telling 6 Music:

"Everybody's ready to go out there again. Who said it should stop, and who said when?"

"Only we will know when it comes to an end, with a crashing halt."

Well, that crashing halt seems to have happened already thanks to his poor crippled claw hands... The extent of his arthritis could be seen when he recently appeared on the Culture Show (pictures above), but not on the front of his new book (see below - an old archive shot was used) and it all sadly means he can hardly play for any amount of time now.

On top of that, the metal plate he got put in his head after "falling out coconut tree" has affected his memory to the extent that at a recent band meeting, concern was raised as the other members weren't convinced he could actually even remember the songs. As such, they are reluctant to even attempt a year long tour - regardless of the billion dollar figure (Ronnie's next girlfriend won't be pleased).

So, the likelihood is that the Rolling Stones will never play live together again.