British rock legend Ronnie Wood is now the third-longest-serving member of The Rolling Stones, but his journey goes far beyond just the iconic band. Before joining the Stones in 1976, Wood established himself as a guitarist in the Jeff Beck Group and later formed Faces, with Rod Stewart leading the charge.
In the mid-1960s, Wood looked up to the Stones as he carved out his own niche in the vibrant London rock scene. By the early ’70s, he had forged a close friendship with the band and even co-wrote the title track for *It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll* alongside Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. His official entry into the band came in 1975, when he replaced Mick Taylor as a touring guitarist. After completing his probationary period, Wood became a full-fledged member a year later during the recording of *Black and Blue*.
Over his illustrious career, Wood has collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, both in the UK and the US. While he likely has few regrets about his professional achievements, he has expressed some sorrow over his fading memories. Reflecting on his rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, Wood acknowledges that years of heavy drinking took a toll on his memory, leaving him unable to recall many of the faces of his past girlfriends.
“One regret I have, going back through this diary, is that I can’t remember what a lot of my girlfriends looked like years ago,” Wood shared with NME in 2015. “I don’t regret the drinking. I drank for Britain until I got sober five years ago. That was a learning curve I had to go through—but not remembering the wonderful girls is a regret.”
His 2015 memoir helped jog his memory about past escapades with figures like comedian Sid James and soul singer Wilson Pickett. “’In The Midnight Hour’ was the biggest record for me,” he recalled, “but I’d forgotten all about our adventure together until I picked up the diary.”
During the same interview, Wood reflected on his determination to join The Rolling Stones. “I was going to be in that band one way or another, and I would broadcast the fact,” he proudly recalled. “I thought it looked like a good job—and it turns out that it is. It shows that you can set your sights on something and achieve it if you think big and put in the work.”
For a glimpse of Wood in action, check out his first live performance with The Rolling Stones on May 1, 1975, in New York City, where the band played from the back of a moving flatbed truck to promote their upcoming *Tour of the Americas