Ronnie Wood

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Lore & Background

Wood's musical journey began in Yiewsley, Middlesex, where he played lead guitar for the Birds starting in 1964. By 1967, he joined the Jeff Beck Group, initially as a rhythm guitarist before switching to bass after original members departed. He recorded two albums with them: Truth (1968) and Beck-Ola (1969). When the group split in 1969, Wood and Rod Stewart left together to join former Small Faces members Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan, and Kenney Jones, forming Faces. The band achieved significant US success early on, particularly with the hit 'Stay With Me' in 1971. The title track of their final LP, Ooh La La (1973), was sung by Ronnie Wood. As Faces dissolved, Wood recorded his first solo album, I've Got My Own Album to Do (1974), featuring George Harrison and Keith Richards at his private studio.

In Their Own Story

In December 1973, Wood asked old friend Mick Taylor for help on his debut solo record. Soon after, in a pivotal moment for rock history, Keith Richards invited Wood to join The Rolling Stones following Mick Taylor's departure in late 1974. Wood participated in the March 1975 sessions for Black and Blue while still officially with Faces. He toured North America with the Stones that year before Faces announced their breakup in December. On April 23, 1976, he was declared an official member of The Rolling Stones. In this new role, Wood played slide guitar like Brian Jones and Mick Taylor before him, adding lap steel and pedal steel to the band's sound. His interplay with Richards created a weaving style where lead and rhythm roles blurred. He also contributed bass on tracks like "Emotional Rescue" and "Fingerprint File," showcasing his multi-instrumental versatility.

Reader's Guide

Wood serves as a stabilizing force in The Rolling Stones, playing slide guitar and occasionally bass. His official induction into the band occurred in 1976 after a year of temporary collaboration. He has co-written over a dozen songs for the group, including "Dance," "Black Limousine," and "One Hit (to the Body)." Beyond music, he is an accomplished painter; his brothers Art and Ted were also graphic artists, and all three studied at Ealing College of Art. Wood's solo discography includes Now Look (1975), Gimme Some Neck (1979), 1234 (1981), Slide on This (1992), Not for Beginners (2002), and I Feel Like Playing (2010). He formed the New Barbarians to promote his 1979 album, touring Canada, the US, and playing Knebworth. In 1990, he became a fully-fledged partner in the Stones' financial organization.

Did You Know?

• Wood was born into a family of 'bargees' and is the first generation in his lineage to be born on land.
• He co-wrote over a dozen songs for The Rolling Stones, including 'Dance' and 'Black Limousine'.
• During a performance, he gave Bob Dylan his guitar when Dylan's string broke and played air guitar until a replacement arrived.
• Wood recorded his first solo album, I've Got My Own Album to Do, in his private basement studio at The Wick near London.
• He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: once in 1989 with the Stones and again in 2012 with Faces.

Early Life and Artistic Roots

Ronald David Wood was born on June 1, 1947, in Hillingdon, London, into a family of bargees often referred to as water gypsies. He marked a significant generational shift as the first member of his lineage to be born on land rather than aboard a vessel. Raised at 8 Whitehorn Avenue in Yiewsley, Wood attended local schools including St Stephen's Infant School and St Martin's Secondary Modern, where his artistic talents were early recognized when one of his drawings was selected for the BBC Sketch Club. His creative environment was heavily influenced by his elder brothers, Art and Ted, who were both graphic artists and musicians. All three siblings pursued formal training at Ealing College of Art, fostering a household steeped in visual and musical creativity. This artistic foundation proved crucial for Wood's future career, particularly as he later became known not just for his guitar work but also for his distinctive artwork on Rolling Stones album covers. The loss of his brothers, Ted in 2004 and Art in 2006, marked the end of an era for this close-knit creative family.

The Jeff Beck Group and Formation of Faces

Wood's professional music career launched in 1964 with the Birds, a rhythm and blues band where he served as lead guitarist and co-wrote nearly half their material. By 1967, after the Birds disbanded, he joined the high-profile Jeff Beck Group. Initially hired as a rhythm guitarist, Wood quickly adapted to play bass following departures within the group, contributing to the albums Truth and Beck-Ola alongside vocalist Rod Stewart. In 1969, following the split of the Jeff Beck Group, Wood and Stewart departed together to join former Small Faces members Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan, and Kenney Jones. This new supergroup was named Faces, with Wood returning to his primary instrument, lead guitar. While the band achieved immediate success in the UK and Europe, their major breakthrough in the United States occurred during their final year of existence in 1975. During this period, Wood also co-wrote the title track for their final album, Ooh La La, and contributed significantly to Stewart's early solo recordings.

Solo Ventures and Joining the Rolling Stones

As Faces began to dissolve, Wood pivoted toward solo projects while maintaining close ties with his musical peers. His debut solo LP, I've Got My Own Album to Do, released in 1974, was recorded at his private studio in London and featured collaborations with George Harrison, Keith Richards, and bandmate Ian McLagan. This era also saw him composing the soundtrack for Mahoney's Last Stand with Ronnie Lane. Following Mick Taylor's departure from the Rolling Stones in late 1974, Wood was invited by longtime friend Keith Richards to join the legendary group. He initially filled in temporarily before becoming an official member in 1976. His solo career continued alongside his work with the Stones, yielding albums like Gimme Some Neck and Slide on This over subsequent decades. His ability to balance these commitments highlighted his versatility as a musician who could navigate both high-profile band dynamics and independent artistic expression.

Legacy and Hall of Fame Inductions

Ronnie Wood's enduring impact on rock music is formally recognized through two separate inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was first inducted in 1989 as a member of the Rolling Stones, cementing his status within one of history's most influential bands. Two decades later, in 2012, he received a second induction for his work with Faces, acknowledging the band's significant contribution to rock and roll despite their relatively shorter active period compared to the Stones. Throughout his career spanning from the mid-1960s to the present, Wood has released numerous solo albums, including Not for Beginners in 2002 and I Feel Like Playing in 2010. His journey from a local R&B guitarist in Yiewsley to a global icon underscores a remarkable longevity. Beyond his musical output, his legacy includes co-writing classic tracks like 'Stay With Me' and maintaining a prolific creative life that bridges the gap between the British Invasion era and modern rock.

Early Life

Ronald David Wood was born on June 1, 1947, into a family of English "bargees" (river or canal barge operators). He noted that his generation was the first in the family to be born on land. Growing up at 8 Whitehorn Avenue in Yiewsley, he attended St Stephen's Infant School, St Matthew's Church of England Primary School, and St Martin's C of E Secondary Modern School. At school, one of his drawings was selected for the BBC Sketch Club. His elder brothers, Art and Ted, were graphic artists and musicians who studied with him at Ealing College of Art. Ted Wood died in 2004, and Art Wood passed away in 2006.

Jeff Beck Group and Faces

Wood began his professional career in 1964 with the Birds, a Yiewsley-based R&B band where he wrote or co-wrote nearly half their recorded songs. By 1967, after the Birds disbanded, he briefly joined Santa Barbara Machine Head before entering the Jeff Beck Group as a rhythm guitarist, later switching to bass. With Rod Stewart on vocals, they released Truth (1968) and Beck-Ola (1969). In 1969, Wood left with Stewart to form Faces with Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan, and Kenney Jones. While successful in Europe, their US breakthrough came in 1975. Wood also co-wrote "Stay With Me" and "Ooh La La." During this era, he contributed to Stewart's solo albums, including co-writing "Gasoline Alley" and "Every Picture Tells a Story."

Joining The Rolling Stones

After Mick Taylor left the Stones in December 1974, Keith Richards invited Wood to join. He participated in the Black and Blue sessions in March 1975 and toured North America with the band that year. Faces officially split in December 1975, and Wood became an official Rolling Stone on April 23, 1976. In the Stones, he plays slide guitar, lap steel, and pedal steel, often engaging in "the ancient art of weaving" with Richards. He also plays bass when needed, such as on "Emotional Rescue." Wood was made a full financial partner in 1990. The band toured extensively in the 1990s and 2000s, releasing albums like Bridges to Babylon (implied by tour dates) and No Filter (implied context of later tours).

Later Career and Recognition

Wood continued his solo career alongside the Stones, releasing Now Look (1975), Gimme Some Neck (1979), and 1234 (1981). In 1992, he released Slide on This and toured with the New Barbarians. His 1993 appearance with Rod Stewart on MTV Unplugged resulted in the hit album Unplugged...and Seated. He contributed to Bo Diddley's 1996 album A Man Amongst Men. In 2001, he released Not For Beginners and toured as The Ronnie Wood Band, featuring family members and guests like Slash and Andrea Corr. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: in 1989 with the Stones and in 2012 with Faces.