I am listening to Keith’s LIFE audio book and I came across his describing his relationship with Anita. At one point he says she made him a man. I can give a specific occasion which brings illustration to his statement.
We were in Goteborg, Sweden at the Intercontinental. The tour promoter had gathered the local politicians and their entourage for a sit down long table dinner with all of us. We were at the far end of the table..on my left was Anita Pallenburg, Keith and then about 10 ‘others’ across from me was Bill and Charlie, it was awhile before Mick got there. A waiter appeared and Anita whispered something to him–she asked as to what was the strongest alcohol that was traditional –he appeared with a bottle of a clear liquid (probably like straight grain alcohol). Anita took a water glass and filled it from the bottle, she then took the glass and chugged it. Slammed the glass down in front of Keith, refilled it and said..”prove to me that you’re a man”..Keith chugged it as all us ‘men’ did..when Mick appeared we were getting quite drunk and he wanted to catch up so he chugged a glass.. By now things were getting noisy, Keith had put his feet up on the table, smashing the plates that were there, and once again we were talking louder …the promoter signaled me over –he said that I had to try and get them under control as it was bothering the people.. I called the boys over and we actually huddled..I said that the promoter had called me over to help get them under control and laughed that he didn’t realize how drunk I was and we just laughed about it.. Keith ended up on the floor of the restaurant making out with Anita, at this time the promoter, politicians, etc left. A waitress came over to pull Anita off of Keith and Keith accidently hit her with his arm–a photo of this was on the front page of the paper the next day..
A waitress came over to me and said that the police had been called and I had better get them out of there. I pushed, dragged and carried us out and into the elevator to go up to our rooms..I actually carried Anita and now for something no one knew: As I had Anita in my arms carrying her out of the restaurant, she looked up at me and said, “do me a favor, take me to your room”–she was drunk and not for a second would I ever do that to Keith, myself or the tour and now after Keith’s book it could have been a game she was playing on us as well… I came down a little later and asked the waitress what had happened.. she said the police and a paddy wagon had come but since no one was there..they left…and oh I should know that the police would now not come back on any further call… and with that I went back up to the boys, told them and they ended up back at the restaurant and played there until very early the next morning..
