Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richards once fired a gun in anger after a golf ball landed in his food, according to the band's saxophone player.

In his autobiography, musician Bobby Keys details his time on the road with the group in the 1990s and reveals he once became embroiled in an armed stand-off with guitarist Richards after a game of golf went awry.

The saxophonist writes, "When I hit my ball it hooked into the trees, ricocheted - and landed smack dab in the middle of his breakfast. So he shot it (with a gun). He's standing there on his patio with a pistol in his hand and smoke coming out of the muzzle."

"He was holding this smoking shell that used to be my golf ball. He said: 'That's a 10-stroke f**king penalty, and if you ever do it again I'll do the same to you! You ruined my f**king breakfast!' He was gettin' ready to eat his eggs Benedict."