Rolling Stones' Keith Richards says drugs don't help artists make better music during Desert Island Discs

But the Rolling Stones guitarist still has his vices

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Keith Richards has spoken out about his legendary drug use, saying that taking drugs never helped his creative streak.

Speaking to Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, he said that he had to stop a lot of his habits after they became more important to him than his music.

“I realised there are experiments that go on too long. Some people can handle things and other people can’t. If the drugs become more important than the music, you’ve lost the battle.”

When asked if he'd cut back on his legendary chain-smoking, however, Richards said he "sometimes" considered quitting at the suggestion of his wife, though he hadn't got round to it yet.

The Rolling Stones veteran is known for growing old disgracefully, and has spoken out numerous times about his excessive drug use. In 1978 he was handed a suspended jail term after pleading guilty to possessing heroin.

Earlier this year he told Mojo he was still partial to a “joint” first thing in the morning and claimed substance abuse had never harmed his long-term health.

“I smoke regularly, an early morning joint. Strictly Californian,” he said.

“One of the most pleasant things to watch is a map of America where it goes green… green… green. Whether it’s a good thing in the long run, I don’t know.”