Clapton: "Too lazy", according to Richards

But the guitarist and singer would never have been accepted by the Stones because he is "too lazy", Richards said.

He said Clapton had recently revealed how much he wanted to join when the group lost guitarist Mick Taylor in 1974.

Richards told Mojo magazine Clapton had expected the group to call him.

"Eric wanted to jump in after Mick Taylor, but never did say so," he said.

Richards is one of rock's most celebrated guitarists

"There are certain guys that are band players and there's certain guys that ain't. If there's anybody lazier than me, it's Eric."

Clapton played blues-influenced guitar with bands such as The Yardbirds and Cream before beginning a solo career.

Richards and fellow Stones Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts are nearing the end of the European leg of their Licks world tour.

During the UK shows they are showing their concern for the environment by becoming the first group to stage a carbon-neutral tour in Britain.

A scheme devised by the Future Forests group measures carbon dioxide emissions from a concert and then plants enough trees to counteract it.