Keith Richards Has Surgery

Keith Richards had surgery Monday in New Zealand to relieve pressure in his head following a fall, his representative said.

The Rolling Stones guitarist was “up and talking” soon after surgery at The Ascot Hospital in Auckland, but was expected to take several weeks to recuperate, LD Communications said Monday in a statement issued in London.

“Last week Keith was under observation in Auckland following a fall in Fiji and was feeling well after being examined by doctors last week,” the statement said. “However after complaining of headaches yesterday, doctors thought it prudent to move ahead with a small operation to remove the pressure.”

The Stones’ “A Bigger Bang European” tour, which was scheduled to start in Barcelona, Spain, later this month, will be postponed until June, the agency said.

Richards, 62, suffered the injury April 27, but details have not been confirmed. News reports have variously claimed that he fell out of a palm tree or from a jet ski.

— Associated Press