The Fan Who Stole Keith Richards' Guitar Pick in 1972 and Returned It Decades Later

During the Rolling Stones’ 1972 North American tour, a young fan named John R. managed to snag a guitar pick off the stage after a show in Chicago—right under Keith Richards’ nose. It was a small, sweaty piece of plastic, but to him it was a holy relic. He kept it in a box for forty years, never telling anyone where it came from.

In 2012, John found out Keith was doing a book signing for Life in New York. He brought the pick, approached the table, and quietly slid it over. Keith looked at it, smiled, and said, “I remember this one.” He then signed it and handed it back. The pick now lives in a frame—proof that the Stones’ 1972 tour still has fans willing to wait half a lifetime for a handshake.