The musician plays the father of Johnny Depp’s character in the third film of the franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.
Because of Richards’ drunken state, the film’s director nearly had to cancel the shoot.
Actor Bill Nighy, who plays Davy Jones in the film, revealed the story to Empire magazine.
Richards, 62, who had to be held up during the scene, told the director, "If you wanted straight, then you got the wrong man."