Keith Richards Released From NZ Hospital By Doug Pendrell Thursday, May 11, 2006 Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was discharged from an Auckland, New Zealand hospital yesterday, after having brain surgery to repair damage the rocker suffered from a fall while vacationing at the Wakaya Club in Fiji. Richards' publicists has put out a statement to inform press that he was going to be leaving the hospital. CNN reported that a joint press release from Rogers & Cowan and LD Communications confirmed "Keith Richards was discharged today from the Ascot Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand. He will be an outpatient returning to the hospital for check-ups." The statement did not say how long Richards will stay in New Zealand as an outpatient. The 62-year-old Rolling Stone has been in New Zealand for the past two weeks, during which time he has his brain surgery (See Rolling Stone Keith Richards Has Head Surgery). Keith Richards released a statement today, which was given to the media via his publicist. The BBC quoted the statement, which thanked "the doctors and the beautiful ladies who make painful nights less painful and shorter... many thanks, Kiwis." Richards went on to say "I'm pretty much at a loss for words to express my deep gratitude. I hope I wasn't too much of a pain in the arse - after all, it was my head that was fixed." [/b]