Keith Richards, 82, Eyeing Stage Comeback Despite ‘Old Man Issues’ and 2026 Tour Cancellation

Keith Richards isn’t ready to hang up his guitar, but a source says the musician’s aging body has been making it difficult to rock on.

“He’s experiencing old man issues — most notably some pretty severe joint pain — that have forced him to curtail his schedule this year,” the source reveals. “He has good days and he has bad days.”

As the National Enquirer previously reported, the Rolling Stones called off plans for a 2026 stadium tour due to Richards’ years-long battle with arthritis.

“Keith is a hopeless perfectionist at heart and he hates to cancel anything,” notes the source. “But at his age, he’s trying to be realistic about what he can actually do in the next few years.”

Indeed, the “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” artist, 82, tempered fan expectations during an interview with the Wall Street Journal published on Monday, July 6, saying he didn’t “see any reason” why he wouldn’t hit the road with bandmates Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood in 2027 — though he admitted he “could be wrong.”

“Keith believes he will perform again,” shares Enquirer‘s source. “When he feels 100 percent again, that’s exactly what he’ll do. No way does he think he’s actually done with touring.”

While the Rolling Stones recently put out their 25th studio album, Foreign Tongues, logging hours in the recording studio doesn’t compare to playing music venues in different cities around the globe every week.

Per the WSJ article, Richards has suggested a concert residency could be a less taxing option to touring as the rock group grows older.

“Keith has always prided himself on his work ethic and his ability to deliver the goods at the highest possible level,” adds our source. “He’s giving himself the time to get healthy again so he can get back out there.”