If you are wondering how old is keith richards, the answer is 82 years old as of September 18, 2026. Keith Richards was born on December 18, 1943, in Dartford, Kent, England. He will celebrate his 83rd birthday on December 18, 2026. The legendary guitarist has spent more than six decades performing, writing songs, and recording with The Rolling Stones, making his age an interesting part of one of rock music’s longest careers.
Richards is much more than a longtime rock musician. He is a founding member of The Rolling Stones, a guitarist, songwriter, singer, and one of the central creative figures behind the band’s distinctive sound. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame notes that the group was inducted in 1989 and identifies Richards among its key members.
How Old Is Keith Richards Right Now?
As of September 2026, Keith Richards is 82 years old. His date of birth is December 18, 1943, so his 83rd birthday is still ahead on the calendar. The Songwriters Hall of Fame confirms his birth date and identifies Dartford in Kent as his birthplace.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Keith Richards |
| Date of birth | December 18, 1943 |
| Current age | 82 years old |
| 83rd birthday | December 18, 2026 |
| Birthplace | Dartford, Kent, England |
| Profession | Musician, guitarist, songwriter, singer |
| Best known for | The Rolling Stones |
| Rock Hall induction | 1989 |
The age calculation is straightforward: Richards was born in 1943, and because his 2026 birthday has not yet arrived on September 18, he remains 82. On December 18, 2026, he will turn 83.
Keith Richards’ Early Life
Keith Richards grew up in Dartford, a town in Kent southeast of London. His childhood musical interests eventually became closely connected with the blues and early rock and roll. The Songwriters Hall of Fame describes Richards as being strongly influenced by major American rock and roll figures, including Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry.
His connection with Mick Jagger began during childhood. The two attended school together, lost touch for a period, and later reconnected as teenagers. That renewed friendship became the foundation for one of popular music’s most recognizable songwriting partnerships.
According to Biography.com, Richards and Jagger reconnected at a train station in Dartford in 1961. Their shared enthusiasm for American blues and rhythm and blues helped lead them toward the formation of The Rolling Stones.
When Did Keith Richards Join The Rolling Stones?
Richards became a founding member of The Rolling Stones during the band’s formation in the early 1960s. The Songwriters Hall of Fame records the group’s development around 1962 and notes that Richards and Jagger began writing songs together soon afterward.
That early partnership became one of the defining creative relationships in rock music. Richards developed the guitar parts and musical structures that helped establish the band’s sound, while Jagger became its distinctive frontman and vocalist.
Keith Richards’ Role in The Rolling Stones
Asking how old is keith richards often leads to a broader question: how has he remained such a central figure in rock music for so long?
One answer is the durability of his musical role. Richards has been closely associated with the guitar-driven style that became a defining feature of The Rolling Stones. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame describes the band’s music as a blend of blues and American R&B with influences extending into rock, country, psychedelic music, punk, and disco.
Richards also became a prolific songwriter with Jagger. Their collaboration produced many of the band’s best-known songs, including “Satisfaction,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Gimme Shelter,” and “Start Me Up.” The Rock Hall lists several of these recordings among the band’s signature works.
One particularly famous example is “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” Biography.com reports that Richards developed the song’s famous guitar riff after recording an idea while asleep, with the rough recording later becoming the foundation for the finished track.
💡 Pro Tip:
When checking a celebrity’s age online, use the person’s verified birth date rather than relying on a search snippet or an old biography. For people born late in the year, the difference between their current age and their age later that year can be significant.
Keith Richards Through the Decades
Richards’ career stretches across several generations of popular music. The Rolling Stones began in the early 1960s, when Richards was still a teenager approaching adulthood. By the 1970s and 1980s, he had already become one of the most recognizable guitarists associated with rock music.
The band’s longevity is particularly notable. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame describes The Rolling Stones as having a career spanning more than 60 years, with a musical identity rooted in blues and rock while adapting to different styles over time.
Richards also pursued music outside The Rolling Stones. His solo work included projects with the X-Pensive Winos, expanding his recording career beyond his primary band. His autobiography, Life, published in 2010, provided his own account of his childhood, musical development, relationships, songwriting, and experiences with The Rolling Stones. The Rock Hall’s publication materials describe the book as an autobiography of the guitarist, songwriter, singer, and founding member.
Why Keith Richards’ Age Is Significant
The question how old is keith richards is interesting partly because his career spans an unusually long period in modern music.
Consider the timeline. Richards was born in 1943, formed The Rolling Stones in the early 1960s, and was already an established international musician by the middle of that decade. The band continued recording and performing across the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and beyond.
That means Richards’ professional story crosses multiple generations of listeners. Someone discovering The Rolling Stones today can be listening to music created decades before they were born while also exploring recordings made much later in the band’s career.
His longevity also illustrates how influential guitar-based rock remained across changing musical eras. The Rock Hall credits The Rolling Stones with influencing numerous artists and describes their catalog as extending across multiple genres.
📌 Key Takeaway:
Keith Richards is 82 years old as of September 18, 2026, and will turn 83 on December 18, 2026. Born in Dartford, England, he became a founding member of The Rolling Stones and has remained one of the band’s principal guitarists and songwriters for more than six decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Keith Richards’ birthday?
Keith Richards was born on December 18, 1943, in Dartford, Kent, England. His birthday falls late in the calendar year, which means that as of September 18, 2026, he is 82 rather than 83. He will turn 83 on December 18, 2026.
Where was Keith Richards born?
Keith Richards was born in Dartford, Kent, England. The Songwriters Hall of Fame identifies Dartford as his birthplace, while Rock & Roll Hall of Fame archival material also records his December 18, 1943 birth date.
How old was Keith Richards when The Rolling Stones formed?
Richards was 18 years old when The Rolling Stones formed in 1962. He and Mick Jagger had reconnected before the band’s formation and developed their songwriting partnership during the group’s early years.
Is Keith Richards still a member of The Rolling Stones?
Keith Richards remains identified as a member and founding figure of The Rolling Stones. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame lists him among the band’s inducted members and describes the group as having a career spanning more than 60 years.
What is Keith Richards best known for?
Keith Richards is best known as the guitarist and co-principal songwriter of The Rolling Stones. His musical partnership with Mick Jagger produced numerous major songs, while his guitar style became a defining component of the band’s blues-influenced rock sound.
Conclusion
For anyone searching how old is keith richards, the current answer is 82. Born on December 18, 1943, he will reach 83 in December 2026. His age is only one part of the story, however. Richards’ significance comes from the extraordinary length of his career, his partnership with Mick Jagger, and his enduring role in The Rolling Stones. From their early blues-inspired recordings to decades of international success, his work has remained closely connected to the history of rock music.
