The Rolling Stones song that once put Keith Richards to sleep on stage: “It’s a very boring tune”

By 1976, The Rolling Stones had spent more than a decade reshaping rock music. That year, they released the album “Black and Blue,” which marked a clear break from the raw, hard-driving sound of their earlier records. One track in particular, “Fool to Cry,” divided fans and critics alike.

Fool to Cry, and fall asleep

Released as the album’s lead single, “Fool to Cry” captured the band’s mid-70s transition. It peaked at No. 10 in the U.K. and No. 15 in the U.S., but never really connected with diehard fans.

It wasn’t just listeners who found the ballad a little dull. Keith Richards, who co-wrote the song with Mick Jagger, later admitted it bored him so much that he actually nodded off on stage while performing it.

The moment came during a European tour stop in Germany. As the gentle bass and guitar tones drifted through the venue, they had the opposite effect on Richards.

“I fell asleep on stage right in the middle of ‘Fool to Cry,’” Richards recalled years later. “It’s a very boring tune, and I was pretty out of it. I was using one of those volume pedals, just holding it down. It got so loud it woke me up.”

A rare lapse for a rock warrior

The story is even harder to believe considering Richards’ reputation as an unstoppable force whenever he stepped on stage. But exhaustion from touring, combined with the song’s slower tempo, was apparently enough to put even rock’s most indestructible guitarist to sleep.

It’s just one of countless wild stories from the Stones’ long history. “Black and Blue” marked a period of experimentation that didn’t break the band apart, but it did highlight the creative differences within a group that has somehow managed to keep rolling for more than six decades.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.