Rolling Stones legend Keith Richards will be the subject of a new BBC film series over the coming months.
Next month, BBC Two will air a new film entitled Keith Richards – The Origin Of The Species, in which the guitarist looks back over his formative years during the post-war era. The film was made by acclaimed director Julien Temple and will serve as the centrepiece of the BBC’s My Generation season.
Furthermore, in a BBC exclusive, Richards will curate two nights of programming in September as part of the broadcaster’s Keith Richards’ Lost Weekend, in which he will hand pick a selection of films, documentaries and live performances. Each night will feature an introduction from Richards explaining the reasons for his selections.
Speaking in the film, Richards says: “There was a feeling late ‘50s/early ‘60s that there was a change coming. Harold Macmillan actually said it - "The winds of change" - but he didn’t mean it in quite the same way. I certainly felt that my generation, and what was happening and the feeling in the air, was it’s time to push limits. The world is ours now and you can rise or fall on it.”
Commenting on the film, Temple said: “Listening to the early Stones as a kid changed everything for me. I felt a new way of living emerging, a new kind of person becoming possible – something I wanted to be a part of. And without a doubt I thought Keith Richards was the Origin of the Species. This film sets out to explore how both he and the ‘60s in England came about."
Cassian Harrison, channel editor, BBC Four, said: “Keith Richards is undoubtedly one of the key icons of our age. His film for BBC Two will be a fascinating exploration into the post-war years, how they impacted both his life and others and influenced the ‘60s and the decades that followed. And his curated weekend of programmes for BBC Four will be a thrilling musical journey for viewers – giving an extraordinary and unique insight into Keith’s passions and inspirations.”
Jan Younghusband, head of Music TV Commissioning, added: “Keith Richards is an outstanding talent and an inspiration to us all. We are thrilled to be able to bring his unique and entertaining insights to our audience, in this special collaboration with Julien Temple. I know it will be a totally original experience.”
Earlier this week the BBC announced that its Glastonbury 2016 coverage attracted record breaking viewing figures, with Adele, Coldplay and Jeff Lynne all pulling in record high audiences.
