Tom Waits had forbidden Keith Richards from talking about him for biography

WASHINGTON - Rolling Stones star Keith Richards was forbidden to talk about his friendship with Tom Waits to celebrated British journalist Barney Hoskyns by the gravel-voiced singer himself.

Hoskyns approached Richards while researching Waits for his new book ‘Lowside of the Road: A Life of Tom Waits’, and was delighted when the rocker agreed to be interviewed.

“Tom and his wife asked Keith not to speak to me… I just don’t think they want anyone to know too much about Tom Waits. They don’t want any major revelations creeping out,” Contactmusic quoted the writer as saying.

He added: “He’s the pre-eminent cult figure of our time, a maverick who cannot be categorised and his whole persona is a screen Waits hide behind. He’s fascinating and perhaps we don’t need to know too much about him.”

However, Hoskyns conducted over 70 interviews for his unauthorised expose, and he found out that Waits could well be responsible in some way for the Rolling Stones’ longevity.

The writer added: “Steve Jordan, who was Keith’s drummer in ‘The Expensive Winos’ told me that Keith was creatively spent in the mid-1980s and it was Waits’ records that inspired him to go off and do solo work - and that fuelled his work with the Stones.”

Hoskyns will launch his much-anticipated new Waits biography in Los Angeles on May 15 with a book signing at the Mr. Musichead Gallery. (ANI)