Keith Richards has quit drinking.

High-functioning addicts can continue for many years, particularly if the circumstances of their lives shield them from negative consequences. Richards has been in this state since the mid 60’s.

It would be consistent with my limited knowledge of Richards’ character for the impetus to be the self-immolation of a friend, Ronnie Wood. Richards has always had the money to afford to be a drunk and/or an addict, and he has always functioned well while gassed: the Stones best period occurred while Richards was an active heroin addict. He also has always had someone to watch over him.

Wood was similar. Lots of money and a job that didn’t require him to be sober meant that he lasted as long as he had someone to keep him from the worst excesses and get him to rehearsal on time. But once he lost that (by taking up with a 20 year old), he fell apart.

I think the days of the Rolling Stones as a band are closely numbered now. They’ve lost a number of people over the years. Certainly, if either Jagger or Richards calls it quits, the band will be done. I suspect that if Charlie Watts packs it in, the band will fold as well. Whether they would survive the expulsion of Wood, I don’t know, even though Jagger has talked publicly of just that.