Rolling Stones Don T Stop

What Keith Richards' “Life” As a Rolling Stone Tells Us About Economics

Indeed, while Richards’ mother worked as a Hotpoint washing-machine demonstrator, “it took her ages to get her own.” Maytag and Sears come to mind as successful businesses headed by highly paid executives who achieved their pay by virtue of making washing machines broadly accessible. Richards also notes that his family “didn’t have a record player for a long time”, but thanks to innovators who were doubtless well compensated for mass producing the once obscure disc player, someone of Richards’ humble beginnings was eventually able to buy and play music.

The above was particularly important when we consider Richards’ career path. As he put it, “I’ve learned everything I know off of records”, and “Being able to hear recorded music freed up loads of musicians that couldn’t necessarily afford to learn to read or write music, like me.” Economic commentators love to bash the rich as greedy, but the profit motive driving music industry executives provided Richards with a musical education on the relative cheap.

Commentators regularly bemoan inequality in terms of opportunity while seeking government fixes, but Richards’ inspiring story reminds us that starting at the bottom is often a blessing. His first guitar cost 10 British pounds, but since his mother couldn’t afford to pay for it, she got someone else to purchase it, and then that someone eventually defaulted. Notable here is that Richards “couldn’t afford an electric” guitar, but his family’s inability to pay for an electric was instrumental in his rise as a guitar player.

As he explained it, “I firmly believe if you want to be a guitar player, you better start on acoustic and then graduate to electric.” Rather than allow his reduced economic circumstances to act as a barrier to achievement, he accentuated the positive, that he had a guitar, and proceeded to “play every spare moment I got.” Clearly Richards started at the bottom, and had less financial resources to fund his development much as there’s inequality among children today, but this was no deterrent.

Richards’ view is that “if you want to get to the top, you’ve got to start at the bottom, same with anything.” Wise words from a wise man, and something politicians would do well remember as they seek to achieve equality through legislative fiat. Being at the bottom often drives creativity, as Richards’ story attests. Thank goodness British politicians weren’t giving out electric guitars back in the ‘50s.

stones please don`t stop: Tom Noll : arte stone !

. Always an artist, Tom loved drawing as a child, even when his hand would get cracked for drawing “left handed”. With a love for ink on paper, Tom pursued an education in the printing and publishing field, and then years later received a second degree in graphic design and illustration for the world of print and advertising. Working in the creative field, Tom has the well rounded insight for getting ideas from the concept stage to completion. With years of the hustle and bustle of the corporate world, the fine arts have always served as his creative outlet, and safe refuge. Originally painting in watercolors, Tom traveled the art fair circuit, displaying his fluid landscapes and figural works. In later years, his painting interests moved to acrylics and oils as he enjoys the thick paints and builds of color that can be applied to so many varied surfaces. His attention turned to abstract expressionism with large pieces that fill rooms with rich free-flowing color and movement. In the recent rock series captured in oils & acrylic on canvas, he incorporates his bold abstract strokes and vibrant colors into moving pieces that capture the essence of the music and the musicians. Marketing his art worldwide, Tom finds great pleasure in sharing these images and talking with people around the globe who are passionate fans of the rock artists portrayed, and are proudly displaying these works.

According to the Rolling Stones

Hit singles, top 20 charts from 1954 to the present day

The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones

Billboard

Don't stop believin', how karaoke conquered the world and changed my life