With his long-awaited biography, 'Life,' just days away from publication, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards has been dropping some tantalising hints of what to expect -- and the book contains more than just Richards' love of the open G tuning.

Speaking to AnOtherMan magazine, the guitarist affectionately known as "Keef" has revealed that he frequently carried firearms when copping heroin at the height of his addiction in the 1970s. He said, "The first [gun] I bought was a Luger I picked up in the East Village in New York City. After that I went into rifles for a bit just because they go further."

He continued, "I've carried a piece or two now and again -- most of that was to do with the heroin business and being involved in, like, scoring. Especially in America, it bodes you well to be armed.

"A .38 Smith and Wesson Airweight revolver -- that is the f---ing gun. No safety [catch] on it."

Richards also makes mention of three-day drug-fuelled road trip around Britain with the Beatles' John Lennon -- but the details are understandably sketchy.

"What happened neither John nor I could ever remember," Richards said. "We must have been on something exceptional. There was one young lady with us at least, and a chauffeur because we were in no driving condition. And we were just playing sounds."