It is not news to me that Keith Richards is a genuine co-credited songwriter and that he resents what he calls lead-vocalist syndrome. In Life he lays his love-hate relationship with Mick Jagger on thick The other key point he repeats is on his drug abuse: 'don't try this at home'. It is also very interesting on the importance of the record producer, other musicians involved and the studio. In this, he is generous to others.
What really struck me was the globe-trotting. Keef is known for news stories in particular locations such as the drug busts in his home-base called Redlands in Sussex and on tour in Toronto. He also de-bunks the press version of when he was seriously injured from a tree fall on Fiji which required brain surgery in New Zealand. It is also a feature of the creative jumble of recording of 'Exile on Main Street' (in 1971) that the Stones were tax-evaders living in different areas in the South of France. His respect for the American blues musicians is poignant. He also makes frequent references to the ordinary beginnings in Dartford, Kent as he moves home-base to Switzerland and Jamaica. Not to forget Chelsea, New York and Los Angeles, of course.
Being seriously rich affords a rootless existence in the modern era if you travel in comfortable style between four or more luxury homes on different continents and earn your living travelling the major cities. However, what does it mean in terms of gaining a world view?
The other book is Chocolate Wars by Deborak Cadbury. This is largely set in the nineteenth century and involves the global confectionary industrialists of Cadbury, Rowntree, Fry, Hershey, Lindt, Suchard. And this means the named people not just their companies. It is fascinating that in a pre-railway era these entrepreneurs travelled the countries of Europe to find out about the new processing techniques being developed by others. Industrial espionage, if you like. It also involves transatlantic journeys.
Ripe cocoa pods Flickr CC
Originally uploaded by IITA Image Library
It is also mind-boggling that the cocoa pods which is only grown in specific climatic conditions and, to this day, has little or no consummer value in those countries. When William Cadbury heard rumours in 1901 that a small percentage of their cocoa source came from two Portuguese colonies where slavery was still taking place he headed off to find out for himself.
Also in 1901, George Cadbury said "Just now it seems to me that speculators, trust mongers, and owners of enormous wealth are the greatest curse of this world and the cause of most of its povertY!"
Overall it is a fascinating story of highly principled and wealthy power-brokers with much of it speaking to our times. It spans morality in supply chains, factory villages, a range of social concerns, responses to war and political newspaper ownership.
Two books: worlds apart, yet universal concerns.
Both recommended.
Richards, Keith (with James Fox) (2010) Life, Phoenix/Orion.
Cadbury, Deborah (2010) Chocolate Wars: from Cadbury to Kraft: 200 years of sweet succes and bitter rivalry, Harper Press.
Also
The third wave of globalisation, Alex Glennie and Will Straw, IPPR. 26 Jan 2012
www.ippr.org/images/media/files/publication/2012/01/third-wave-globalisation_Jan2012_8551.pdf
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