How 'Start Me Up' Went from a Reggae Bedroom Jam to a Rock Anthem

The basic tracks for “Start Me Up” were cut in 1977 at Keith Richards’ home studio in Paris—a makeshift setup in a bedroom, using a simple 8-track. The band was trying a reggae rhythm, with Keith playing the now‑iconic riff in an off‑beat style, and the whole thing felt loose, like a lark.

That tape sat on a shelf for three years. When the Stones needed a fresh opener for Tattoo You (1981), producer Chris Kimball dug it out. They stripped the reggae groove, tightened the tempo, and locked into a straight four‑on‑the‑floor rock feel. The bedroom rawness stayed in the performance; the drum sound still has that small‑room smash.