Keith Richards: We are in God's hands

Keith Richards told Rolling Stone magazine that drummer Charlie Watts's recent bout with throat cancer didn't affect their new A Bigger Bang album in the least. Richards said, "I don't think that, between us, there was any doubt that he would beat it. I wondered how long and debilitating it might be, which he answered in spades when he came back. He looked exactly the same, like he hadn't done anything more than comb his hair and put a suit on."

Richards went on to say that he's amazed at how powerful Watts was when the group was learning the material: "This is Charlie Watts' finest album. When he came in (after treatment), we were still running down songs, rehearsing. You don't usually go into fifth gear in rehearsal. You lay back a little. But Charlie came in as if to prove 'I'm back.' Richards added, "He played every rehearsal like a show."

The Stones have a few nights off before their show in Columbus on Saturday night (September 24th).

The Stones have live dates lined up through next March - with many of those shows in open air stadiums. Keith Richards says that every night they play in the open there's the chance of getting soaked:
[ click here to listen if you have a Backstage Pass] "That is the problem. Every time you play in the open air you're in God's hands. It's very strange but some of the best shows and the most memorable ones have been ones where there's thunder and lightning and the stage is a wash. Everybody's like soaked. You just get out there with everybody and get as wet as they do."
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