Linda Keith: The Model Who Changed Rock History

Linda Keith is a former British fashion model born in 1946, best known for discovering Jimi Hendrix in 1966 and her relationships with Keith Richards and Brian Jones. She inspired the Rolling Stones’ hit “Ruby Tuesday” and was instrumental in connecting Hendrix with manager Chas Chandler, launching his legendary career.

In the spring of 1966, a 20-year-old British fashion model walked into a half-empty club in New York City. What she heard that night would change music history forever. Linda Keith, already dating one of rock’s biggest stars, recognized raw genius when she saw it. She didn’t just watch from the sidelines. She acted.

Her story goes beyond modeling spreads and backstage passes. Linda Keith became a connector between talent and opportunity at precisely the right moment in cultural history. She moved through the Swinging Sixties not as decoration but as a force who understood music deeply and acted on her instincts.

What This Article Covers

You’ll discover how Linda Keith discovered Jimi Hendrix and changed his life trajectory. You’ll learn about her relationship with Keith Richards that inspired one of rock’s most beautiful ballads. And you’ll understand her role in the bohemian community that defined 1960s London’s cultural explosion.

Early Life and Family Background

Linda Keith was born in 1946 in West Hampstead, London, to Pearl Rebuck and Alan Keith, a British actor and radio presenter. Her family came from Russian-Jewish heritage. Her father became well known across Britain for his radio work and was later honored as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Growing up in West Hampstead placed Linda at the geographic heart of what would become London’s bohemian scene. Her brother Brian Keith became a judge, while her cousin Paul Kossoff would later gain fame as the guitarist for the rock band Free. Music and performance ran through her family tree.

Her father initially opposed her modeling ambitions. But Linda pursued her passion with determination, refusing to let parental disapproval stand in her way.

Breaking Into Fashion Modeling

Linda’s modeling career began by chance. She was discovered while delivering mail at Vogue House in her late teens. Her first assignment involved modeling hats for a spread in the Observer newspaper. The work led to more prominent opportunities.

She became known for her work for Vogue magazine during the 1960s and was photographed by David Bailey, one of the era’s most celebrated fashion photographers. Bailey captured the essence of 1960s youth culture through his lens, and Linda became one of his frequent subjects.

She stood out not just for her looks but for her intelligence and cultural awareness. Linda brought depth to her work that went beyond simply wearing clothes in front of a camera.

The Keith Richards Romance

In 1963, at just 17 years old, Linda met Keith Richards through Rolling Stones manager Andrew Oldham. Her best friend Sheila Klein was dating Oldham, which gave Linda access to the band’s inner circle. Linda was encouraged by Sheila to talk to the shy Keith Richards at a party and he fell in love with her.

Their connection formed around a shared obsession with blues music. Linda Keith became, as Richards described it, “the one that first broke my heart.” She traveled with blues records wherever she went and initially didn’t even allow Richards to play Rolling Stones music on her turntable. She wanted authentic blues, not British interpretations.

The relationship lasted three years. Linda accompanied the band on American tours, witnessed their meteoric rise, and became part of rock history. But by 1966, the romance began unraveling. Drug use entered the picture, creating distance between them.

When Keith discovered Linda had finally left him in August 1966, he said “That’s the first time I felt the deep cut”. His heartbreak would transform into one of the most beautiful songs of the decade.

The Inspiration Behind “Ruby Tuesday”

By November 1966, Keith Richards channeled his pain into songwriting. According to Richards, Linda Keith was the subject of the Rolling Stones song “Ruby Tuesday”. The song’s lyrics captured the essence of Linda’s free-spirited nature and the transience of their relationship.

Richards worked on the song primarily alone, though Brian Jones contributed the distinctive recorder melody that gives the track its haunting quality. The lyrics reflected Linda’s ever-changing nature: “When you change with every new day / Still I’m gonna miss you.”

Released in January 1967 as the B-side to “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” “Ruby Tuesday” became the Rolling Stones’ fourth number-one hit in the United States. It reached number three in the UK. The song remains one of the band’s most performed tracks, with over 180 live performances recorded.

Richards later explained his creative process to biographers, describing how heartbreak often produces the most authentic songwriting. The song turned personal loss into art that resonated with millions.

Discovering Jimi Hendrix at the Cheetah Club

In late May 1966, Linda arrived in New York a month before the Rolling Stones’ tour. Linda decided to walk into The Cheetah Club in New York, where Jimi was playing with Curtis Knight and the Squires. The venue could hold 2,000 people, but only about 40 attended that night.

She thought he was a star, but an unusual one, and at an unusual place. Hendrix’s appearance didn’t match his talent. He wore ill-fitting clothes and had holes in his shoes. But when he played guitar, Linda recognized something extraordinary.

After the set, she invited Hendrix to join her table. She told him she was Keith Richards’ girlfriend and that the Stones would arrive soon. Linda and her model friends invited Jimi back to an apartment at 63rd Street, where they discussed music, politics, and played records all night.

Hendrix explained he didn’t own a guitar. He’d pawned his instrument and borrowed Curtis Knight’s for performances. Linda promised to help.

The White Stratocaster That Changed Everything

Linda lent Hendrix a 1963 white Fender Stratocaster that belonged to Keith Richards. This guitar became iconic in Hendrix’s early career. With it, he left Curtis Knight’s band and formed Jimmy James and the Blue Flames.

Linda also introduced Hendrix to LSD and played him Bob Dylan’s new album “Blonde on Blonde” while they were tripping together. She expanded his musical horizons and believed fiercely in his potential when no one else did.

She tried to introduce Hendrix to Richards, but their deteriorating relationship made that impossible. Richards had grown jealous of Linda’s connection with the American guitarist. She then attempted to interest Andrew Oldham and record producer Seymour Stein in Hendrix’s talent. Both declined.

Connecting Hendrix With Chas Chandler

Linda’s breakthrough came in August 1966. She invited Chas Chandler, bassist for The Animals, to see Hendrix perform at Café Wha?. Chas was so excited when he heard the first song “Hey Joe” that he spilled milkshake on himself. He immediately recognized Hendrix’s extraordinary talent.

Chandler was transitioning from performing to artist management. He saw Hendrix as his first major project. The two made a gentleman’s agreement: after The Animals finished touring, Chandler would bring Hendrix to London and launch his career.

But complications arose. Richards, concerned about Linda’s drug use in New York, contacted her father. Mr. Keith arrived at the scene and brought Linda back to England. Upon returning home, her parents made her a ward of court and subjected her to compulsory psychiatric treatment.

Despite these obstacles, the connection had been made. Chandler eventually brought Hendrix to London in September 1966. Within months, Hendrix became an international sensation.

Life After the Swinging Sixties

Just before his death, Hendrix gave Linda a Fender Stratocaster as a token of his gratitude for everything she had done for him. The gesture showed his deep appreciation for the woman who believed in him when he was unknown.

Linda eventually married music producer John Porter. In 2010, she was living in New Orleans. She raised a family and moved away from the spotlight that defined her youth.

The white Stratocaster she lent Hendrix now belongs to a French collector named Armand Serra. It remains one of the most historically significant guitars in rock history.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

Linda Keith’s influence on 1960s rock culture extended beyond her romantic relationships. She was at the heart of a bohemian community in London’s West Hampstead, connecting artists, musicians, and cultural figures during a transformative period.

She represented a new type of woman in the rock world. Unlike groupies who simply followed bands, Linda possessed deep musical knowledge and genuine industry connections. She used her position to champion talent she believed in.

The film “Jimi: All Is by My Side” (2014) featured English actress Imogen Poots portraying Linda Keith. The movie depicted her crucial role in Hendrix’s early career and their brief relationship. The film also suggested that Hendrix wrote “Red House” about her, though this remains debated among music historians.

Two major rock songs bear her influence: the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday” and Hendrix’s lesser-known “Send My Love to Linda,” one of the last songs he composed before his death in 1970.

Linda Keith’s Role in Music History

Aspect	Contribution
Discovery	Recognized Jimi Hendrix’s talent at the Cheetah Club, 1966
Facilitation	Lent Hendrix Keith Richards’ white Stratocaster
Connection	Introduced Hendrix to manager Chas Chandler
Inspiration	Subject of Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday”
Cultural Influence	Key figure in London’s Swinging Sixties bohemian scene

Her story demonstrates how cultural change often happens through personal connections. One person’s belief in another’s talent can alter the course of music history. Linda Keith saw Hendrix’s potential when he was playing to nearly empty clubs. She took action to help him, persisting despite rejection from multiple industry figures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Linda Keith?

Linda Keith was a British Vogue model who discovered Jimi Hendrix in 1966 and dated Keith Richards. She played a key role in 1960s rock culture.

How did Linda Keith discover Jimi Hendrix?

She saw him performing at New York’s Cheetah Club in May 1966 with Curtis Knight and the Squires. She immediately recognized his exceptional talent.

What song did Keith Richards write about Linda Keith?

Keith Richards wrote “Ruby Tuesday” about Linda Keith after their relationship ended in 1966. The song became a number-one hit in the US.

Did Linda Keith date Jimi Hendrix?

Yes, Linda Keith and Jimi Hendrix had a brief romantic relationship in 1966 while she was in New York before the Rolling Stones tour.

What happened to Linda Keith?

Linda Keith married music producer John Porter and raised a family. As of 2010, she was living in New Orleans, away from the public spotlight.

The Woman Behind the Music

Linda Keith’s influence on rock history remains underappreciated. She operated in an era when women in the music industry were often dismissed as decoration or distraction. Yet she possessed genuine musical knowledge, trusted her instincts, and took meaningful action.

Her recognition of Hendrix’s talent changed music forever. Without her intervention, Hendrix might have remained unknown, playing backup for Curtis Knight in small clubs. Her connection to Chas Chandler created the pathway to stardom.

The heartbreak she caused Keith Richards produced “Ruby Tuesday,” a song that has touched millions across generations. Her story shows how personal relationships and cultural movements intertwine to create the art we remember.

Linda Keith lived at the intersection of fashion, music, and cultural revolution. She wasn’t just present for history. She helped make it happen.