Keith is the reason I went out and got my left ear pierced years ago. I was listening to Stones records right after I started playing guitar and got into the Eagles and I watched a bunch of Stones videos and I thought he was about a perfect example of what a rockstar is in my mind. The ultimate pirate! The guys in makeup never did much for me as far as idolization or rockstar image I'm afraid although I love glam rock/80s hair metal. But when I think of rockstar guitarists I think of Walsh, Richards, Page, Perry, and Slash. Not so much Carlos Santana or Alex Lifeson.
As far as his kids - yes I agree that would be very tough. As you said - "Do as I say, not as I do". And it's not that I'm proud of his drug use or anything - I just miss the days of rock n' roll when it wasn't so choreographed and suit and tie and everything so planned out. Before the days of long riders and ridiculous things like grapes in the dressing room or having no brown M&Ms in the dish. It's gotten to be a caricature of itself, IMO. I miss the days of just unplanned improvised shows (short of a setlist, that is) and back when it was ok to make mistakes and fly by the seat of your pants onstage. IMO back in the 70s it was more about the music and good times than the money, and less "businessy". Now everyone is jaded and boring and think they have a story to tell. And I think that whole lifestyle was a big component of the music that came out, good or bad, right or wrong. Heck, there is a lot of people that say Aerosmith haven't made a good record since they were clean. And that's just one example. Now I'd much rather have them sober, but IMO the music a lot of us love was a byproduct of the guys who made it living that lifestyle.
Don't get me wrong, I can like a smooth song ok and I was exaggerating some, it's just that I tend to get bored with those who stand in one place onstage and be philosophical all night or tell boring stories or things that suck the fun right out of the room. It's like the same with those who go onstage and give big political rants or life advice or tell your life story. It's like I paid you to shut your trap and sing and rock, not tell me who to vote for or what to support or what I should be doing. Kevin Cronin of REO has done that the 2 times I've seen them and while I love REO, it's grating on my nerves. And while there is a multitude of reasons why I don't go to Ted Nugent's concerts - that's one of them.
I like energy, fun, and a chance to get serious things off of my mind at concerts - not go and be reminded of how bad a shape the world is in or that their dad died in WWII. I'm sorry if that's harsh. It's the same reason I don't watch the news. I have enough sorrow to deal with myself and friends and family's problems - without taking on the world's problems.