Happy Halloween 2 (Keith Richards' Skull Ring)

KEITH'S RING (1)

        

         Happy Halloween!  I'll spare you the story of our pre-Halloween nightmares, but will try to pass along any happy post-Halloween memories at a later date.

        In honor of the holiday, I just wanted to share (it's a weird form of holiday celebration/notation, I know, but what the hell) my long-term, persistent negative feelings about Keith Richards' "trademark" skull ring.

     This hideous, depressing piece of jewelry was, apparently (I never knew this until today) designed by the London jewelers Courts and Hackett for Keith as a birthday present in 1978.  Others may not share this opinion, but I feel strongly that Keith's ring is one of the stupidest, ugliest items ever to appear on human hands anywhere at any time in history.

        Keith's fashion sense has always been imperfect, as has Mick Jagger's.  Brian, Bill and (quite a bit later) Charlie were always "streets ahead", as they say, of their bandmates in this regard.  That's ok.  Whatever his shortcomings (including not releasing a decent Rolling Stones record in about 40 years), Keith's talent and cool is undeniable and, as Ray Davies said about him a couple of years ago, he's the only member of his musical generation and British Invasion set who can still fit into all his old clothes (which he still apparently owns.)

      Happy Halloween!  Keith, please lose the ring.

    

KEITH'S RING (2)      

           

        "Over the past 30 years Keith Richards silver skull ring has taken on its own mythology and iconic status. The most famous ring in the world has come to signify not only Keith Richards the man - seen wearing it at every gig and in every photograph – but Rock and Roll itself. The ring has inspired both an international cult following and unlimited fake copies. There have been countless claims as to who designed and made the original but this is the true story. 

        In 1978 the celebrated London goldsmiths David Courts and Bill Hackett were working on a small scale silver sculpture of a human skeleton. Using a real skull for reference they carved a perfect miniature replica which they then moulded. When the hollow wax skull was removed from its mould the inspiration for the ring was born. Further experimentation led to the creation of the original silver skull ring. At the same time an invitation arrived from Keith Richards to his birthday party in New York - so Bill and David decided that the new ring would make a fantastic present. From the moment he put it on his finger, the magic began and he has worn it ever since."

      

      -- From  the Courts and Hackett website (link)

       -- Rolling Stones -- You Got The Silver (outtake)