Ronnie Wood

Ronnie Wood (born 1 June 1947) is an English guitarist, songwriter and visual artist known for his long tenure with The Rolling Stones and earlier work with Faces and The Jeff Beck Group. Wood's career spans rock, blues and rhythm and blues, and he has maintained a parallel reputation as a painter and illustrator with exhibitions and published works. His collaborations and session appearances include performances with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton and George Harrison.

Early life and education

Ronald David Wood was born in Hillingdon, Middlesex, England, and raised in Yiewsley and later Shepherd's Bush, London, during the post‑war era influenced by British popular culture and American rhythm and blues. He attended local schools before entering the London art scene where he studied at Ealing Art College, linking him to contemporaries from the British art and music milieus such as members of The Who and artists connected to the Swinging London cultural movement. Early exposure to skiffle records, Blues imports from the United States, and British beat groups shaped his formative musical tastes alongside visual arts training that informed his later painting and album artwork.

Musical career

Wood's professional career began in the mid‑1960s with membership in mod and blues‑influenced bands, including The Birds and The Creation, before he rose to prominence in The Jeff Beck Group alongside Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart where hard blues and psychedelic elements were prominent. In 1969 he co‑founded Faces with Stewart, Kenney Jones, Ian McLagan and Ronnie Lane, blending rock, soul and British rhythm and blues; Faces became known for energetic live shows and recordings such as the album "A Nod Is as Good as a Wink... to a Blind Horse". In 1975 Wood joined The Rolling Stones, succeeding Mick Taylor and forming the core guitar partnership with Keith Richards that produced albums like "Some Girls" and "Tattoo You", and sustained worldwide touring including major events tied to Stones tours and festival circuits. Wood has contributed guitar work, backing and occasional lead vocals, and songwriting credits on numerous Stones tracks; he has also performed with artists from Led Zeppelin-era circles and featured in recording sessions with members of The Beatles and The Band.

Solo work and collaborations

Alongside group commitments, Wood has released solo albums showcasing his stylistic range, including blues, folk and roots‑oriented material, with records such as "I've Got My Own Album to Do" and "Slide on This". His solo projects attracted collaborators like Pete Townshend, Nicky Hopkins, Joan Jett, Iggy Pop and Steve Winwood, and session work extended to projects by John Lennon contemporaries and other prominent rock figures. Wood's collaborative ventures include supergroup and charity performances with musicians from Pink Floyd, The Who, and Queen, and studio contributions for tribute albums and soundtracks linked to film and television events in the British and international entertainment industries. He has also engaged in acoustic tours and duo performances with fellow Stones members and solo artists, participating in benefit concerts associated with cultural institutions such as Live Aid-era charity frameworks.

Art and other creative pursuits

Parallel to his musical output, Wood established himself as a visual artist whose paintings, sketches and lithographs often depict portraits of musicians, scenes from tours and narrative vignettes tied to rock culture. He studied at Ealing Art College and later held exhibitions in galleries across London, New York City, and European art venues, contributing cover art and illustrations for albums and books. Wood published an autobiography combining textual memoir and illustrative work, and his artworks have been auctioned for charitable causes connected to organizations like Maggie's Centres and other UK‑based foundations. Beyond painting, he has contributed to collaborative multimedia projects, appeared in documentary films on rock history, and engaged in photography and printmaking that intersect with contemporary art fairs and retrospective exhibitions.

Personal life and public image

Wood's personal life has been highly publicized, encompassing long‑term relationships, marriages and family ties that link him to figures in the British entertainment scene, including children who have pursued careers in music and film. He has spoken openly about struggles with alcohol and health challenges, leading to periods of rehabilitation and public discussion of recovery that involved support from peers in The Rolling Stones and the broader music community. Wood's onstage persona—characterized by slide‑guitar technique, rhythmic interplay with Keith Richards, and visible sketching and painting while touring—has contributed to a public image balancing rock‑and‑roll excess with artistic seriousness. He has received honors and recognition through inclusion in various "greatest guitarist" lists and participation in legacy projects celebrating British rock, contributing to the cultural histories documented by institutions such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where The Rolling Stones were inducted.

Category:English rock guitarists Category:Members of The Rolling Stones