1. Keith Doesn't Sleep: In his Life autobiography, Richards reckons that on average, he slept only two nights a week for many years of the Stones' glory years. "This means that I have been conscious for at least three lifetimes," he calculated. No sleep, and he can still do the math! A related aside: Keith claims he wrote the "Satisfaction" riff in his sleep.

2. Keith Got The Blues When 3: Keith says he got the music bug aged at just three years old. His favorites were Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Big Bill Broonzy and Louis Armstrong. Richards was in awe after seeing the 1956 film, Low Light and Blue Smoke: Big Bill Blues, in which Broonzy performed the standard, blues-style. "It was a classic video before its time," says Richards.

The Stones' Ronnie Wood is also a Broonzy fan. In Q magazine interview (2007) Wood hails Broonzy's "Guitar Shuffle." "It was one of the first tracks I learnt to play, but even to this day I can't play it exactly right."

3. Keith Was A Boy Scout: As a boy, Keith Richards was a Boy Scout. "It was mainly a chance to swagger around with a knife on your belt," he reckoned. Unfortunately for Keith, "you didn't get the knife until you got a few badges." Richards is known for his like of knives.