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Legendary rock and roll guitarist Keith Richards not solely celebrated his 82nd birthday but in addition paid respect to his useless pal and bandmate, saxophonist Bobby Keys. In a short however extraordinarily emotional vogue, the Rolling Stones guitar participant narrated their special occasion and posted, ‘Considering of Bobby Keys on his birthday! Miss you, Bobby! Keith.’ The message was a double celebration bringing again to thoughts a beautiful musical accomplice together with the popularity of a time passing for one of many longest-standing figures in music.

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The story of the shut friendship between Keith Richards and Bobby Keys is so fantastic that it might be a rock story. Bobby Keys was probably the most celebrated saxophonists of his time, whose scorching solo on The Rolling Stones’ ‘Brown Sugar’ is immediately recognizable, and he not solely had a really shut musical partnership with Richards but in addition shared his birthday—December 18th. They had been partying collectively for years, their friendship was as well-known because the riffs and solos they created. Keys handed away in 2014, however nonetheless, relating to Richards, the date is clearly a time for reflection and revelry.

Keith’s message to Bobby caused an infinite outpouring of affection and collective reminiscence within the web group. It shortly reworked right into a joint birthday card for each males because the remark part was chock-full of congratulations. The overwhelming sentiment was that of honoring two legends without delay—one residing, the opposite useless however not forgotten.

Among the many many feedback, a very shifting one got here from a person who linked the tribute to a latest cultural occasion. ‘Hiya, Keith! Noticed this in an IMAX theatre final evening right here in Vancouver,’ they stated, referring to a re-release of a traditional Stones movie. ‘What a thrill to see it once more virtually 35 years after its first launch… How beautiful to see Charlie and Bobby like that. Joyful birthday to you each!’ This statement couldn’t have been extra correct—nothing can restrict their artwork, these events are captured and re-lived, and the previous with its hanging presence turns into intertwined with the current.

Yet another observer identified the marvelous parallelism of their lives with one uncomplicatedly robust truth: ‘Each of you had been born on the identical day, 82 years in the past.’ It was a really blundering assertion that hit arduous. It portrayed the entire of their camaraderie—parallel lives, sharing moments, so robust bonds that even demise can’t utterly break them. It’s the type of issue that resembles extra excitingly future than mere luck.

Alternatively, the ambiance was not utterly of significant reflection. There was a great deal of the traditional, boisterous mojo that one would typically relate to Stones followers. ‘Joyful birthday to you in saxophone heaven, Bobby, and completely satisfied birthday, Keef,’ one individual shouted, intertwining reverence with the humorous nickname. One other one declared Richards ‘the best, baddest, hottest guitarist ever!’ displaying that even at 82, his rock god standing is totally unassailable.

Among the many birthday congratulations, one basic message was appreciation. ‘These few left us can drink to Bobby and their reminiscences that lifted them up previously,’ was how one insightful remark put it. This conveyed the gist—Keith Richards, by publicly acknowledging his useless pal, was truly prompting everyone to take part within the reminiscence. It reworked a non-public message right into a collective second of thankfulness for the merriment that each males have been offering for the previous many years.

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Lastly, Keith Richards’ birthday message was nothing greater than a easy social media put up. It was an astounding manifestation of friendship and legacy that is aware of no bounds. He has outlived the vast majority of his friends and companions in crime but doesn’t cease taking part in and bringing alongside the reminiscences with him. By honoring Bobby Keys, he additionally honored rock and roll’s authenticity and, thus, uncovered the uncooked, passionate, and completely human connection that was at all times on the core of music. The celebration continues, for each of them, eternally.