Keith Richards' Bandmates and Family Celebrate His 80th Birthday: 'Amazing Gentle Rock n Roll Blues Soul'

The Rolling Stones rocker received tributes from Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood and his daughters Theodora and Alexandra

Musician Keith Richards poses backstage on Friday, October 20, 2023
Keith Richards in October. Photo:

Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty

Keith Richards is feeling the birthday love!

The legendary Rolling Stones rocker turned 80 on Tuesday, and he rang in a new decade with tributes from his family and famous bandmates.

Stones frontman Mick Jagger — who celebrated his own 80th birthday in July — shared a photo of the pair smiling together in sunglasses to Instagram, wishing Richards a happy birthday and signing the post, “Love Mick.”

Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards backstage before The Rolling Stones surprise set in celebration of their new album 'Hackney Diamonds' on October 19, 2023 in New York City.
Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards backstage before The Rolling Stones surprise set in celebration of their new album 'Hackney Diamonds' on October 19, 2023 in New York City.

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Ronnie Wood also shared several photos of him with Richards, including a few throwbacks. “🎂🎉❤️😎Happy 80th birthday @officialkeef!🎸❤🥳,” wrote Wood, 76.

Though the band's drummer Charlie Watts died in 2021, his official Instagram account, managed by the Charlie Watts Estate, also paid tribute to Richards, drawing on praise Watts once gave the rocker.

“Charlie said of his lifelong friend, ‘Keith is the most interesting, the most different of us all...He’s a man of vision, and one of the few people who hasn’t really changed over the years. Wherever he goes, whatever he does, he’s always Keith. He’ll be in his room and all the stuff that makes him Keith will be there. The music’s going, the wine’s there, his guitar’s there, and he’ll be sitting in the middle of it all like some wonderful sultan. It’s fantastic. It’s not a new thing, it’s the way he’s always been,’” the caption read.

Meanwhile, Richards’ daughters also got in on the fun; Theodora, 38, shared a photo to Instagram of her dad cuddling with a dog, as well as a throwback shot of him in all his rock star glory.

“Happy birthday to this amazing gentle rock n roll blues soul. Love you so daddio!!!!” she captioned her post.

Her sister Alexandra, 37, also gave her dad a shoutout with a photo of a light in the sky and a shot of Richards with wife Patti Hansen, with whom he celebrated 40 years of marriage on Monday.

“Happy 80 Happy 40 years! Your light forever burns bright within me. Love you both xx,” she captioned her post.

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 07: Musician Keith Richards (L) and his wife Patti Hansen arrive at the premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" at Disneyland on May 7, 2011 in Anaheim, California.
Keith Richards and Patti Hansen.

Kevin Winter/Getty

Richards marked his milestone anniversary with his own post dedicated to Hansen on Monday that featured a photo of them cutting a celebratory cake following their nuptials.

"For Patricia, Happy 40th Anniversary! I love you. Keith🖤," Richards captioned the post, which saw him wearing a tuxedo alongside the model and actress, 67, who sported a satin, short-sleeve wedding dress against a backdrop of the ocean.

The rocker’s birthday was also celebrated by pals like Slash and Sheryl Crow, who both shared social media tributes, as well as friend and collaborator Tom Waits, who will publish a poem in Richards’ honor next month in Uncut magazine.

“Keith…long may you twirl, Splash, curl, slash, take a blue marble and turn it into a 49 Mercury saw the girl in half and make the elephant disappear…” Waits wrote, in part, according to American Songwriter. “Happy Birthday KEITH the big 80 is here, slap it in the face and wake it up… Love, T O M W.”

Despite the big birthday, Richards is showing no signs of slowing down. He and his Stones bandmates released the new album Hackney Diamonds in October, and will take the album on the road next year for a 16-date run of stadium concerts across the United States and Canada.

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