I read that he admitted to doing 00 worth of cocaine a day at one point. Then again, I think Little Richard is perfectly happy to exaggerate about his life for publicity's sake, so who knows.
Please understand that I love Little Richard with all my heart, and he managed to keep going strong waaaaaaaaay longer than most rock stars, but he should have retired before he got to this point.
Yeah.. I took my dad to see Tony Bennett for his birthday a few years ago, and nearing 90 I was surprised to see him standing, let along singing. But his band was probably the best I've ever heard at a live show, and easily compromised for Mr. Bennett's sometimes-warbly voice. These guys just sound like a bar band on a tuesday night.
Before I saw this I didn't know that Little Richard actually wrote this song, and that it was kind of like Louie Louie in that it's hard to track its origins. Cool! Enjoy your retirement dude!