KEITH RICHARDS The Unauthorised Biography

Adrian Mulraney might seem an odd choice to narrate this biography of the renegade Rolling Stones guitarist--first published in 1992. It's no fault of his: His technique is perfectly mellifluous and almost musical, like many English voices. But his rarefied tone seems incongruous when delivering some of the vulgar words in the text, although that doesn't diminish the content or his stature as a proficient narrator. Coming on the heels of Richards's own memoir, LIFE, this unauthorized bio may be even more revelatory than that supposedly tell-all opus. An insider with a long track record of chronicling counterculture figures, Brokis knows his subject intimately, delving into the details of Richards's working-class background, ascent to superstardom, and descent into addiction. J.S.H. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2014]