Ronnie Wood facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ronnie Wood
Wood on stage with the Rolling Stones in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Ronald David Wood
Also known as	Ron Wood Woody
Born	(1947-06-01) 1 June 1947 (age 78) Hillingdon, Middlesex, England
Genres	Rock blues
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter record producer painter radio personality
Instruments	Guitar bass vocals
Years active	1964–present
Labels	Warner Bros.

Ronald David Wood, born on June 1, 1947, is a famous English rock musician. He is best known for being a member of the legendary band The Rolling Stones since 1975. He was also a part of other popular bands like Faces and the Jeff Beck Group.

Wood started his music journey in 1964. He played lead guitar with several British rhythm and blues bands. These included the Birds and the Creation. In 1967, he joined the the Jeff Beck Group as a guitarist and bassist. He played on their albums Truth and Beck-Ola.

When the Jeff Beck Group split in 1969, Wood and singer Rod Stewart joined former Small Faces members. They formed a new band called Faces. Wood played lead guitar for Faces. The band became very successful in the UK and Europe. They gained major fame in the US in 1975. Wood sang and helped write the popular song "Ooh La La" from their 1973 album.

As Faces started to break up, Wood began his own solo music projects. His first solo album, I've Got My Own Album to Do, came out in 1974. This album featured his bandmate Ian McLagan, George Harrison from The Beatles, and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. After Mick Taylor left the Rolling Stones, Keith Richards invited Wood to join. He became an official member in 1976.

Besides his first solo album, Wood has released several others. These include Now Look (1975), Gimme Some Neck (1979), and 1234 (1981). Later albums were Slide on This (1992), Not for Beginners (2002), and I Feel Like Playing (2010). As a member of the Rolling Stones, Wood was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. He was inducted a second time in 2012 as a member of Faces.

Early Life and Family Background

Wood was born in Hillingdon, west London. His family were "bargees," meaning they operated boats on rivers or canals. He has said that his generation was the first in his family to be born on land. He grew up in Yiewsley and went to local schools there.

Wood's older brothers, Art and Ted, were artists and musicians. Ted Wood passed away in 2004, and Art Wood in 2006.

Ronnie Wood's Music Career

Starting in the 1960s

Wood began his professional music career in 1964. He was a guitarist for the Birds, an R&B band from Yiewsley. The Birds were popular live and released several singles. Wood wrote or co-wrote almost half of their songs.

By 1967, the Birds had broken up. Wood briefly joined a project called Santa Barbara Machine Head. He then became a bassist for the Jeff Beck Group. With singer Rod Stewart, Wood toured and recorded two albums: Truth (1968) and Beck-Ola (1969). He also worked with the Creation during this time.

In 1969, after Steve Marriott left the Small Faces, Wood started working with the remaining members. He returned to playing guitar. This group, along with Rod Stewart, formed a band called Quiet Melon. After the Jeff Beck Group's tour, Wood and Stewart joined the former Small Faces members full-time. The band's name changed to Faces.

Success in the 1970s

Wood (left) while in Faces, with Rod Stewart (right) in 1975

In the early 1970s, Faces released four studio albums. They were one of the highest-earning live bands. Wood played guitar, harmonica, and bass. He also sang and co-wrote many songs, like "Stay With Me" and "Ooh La La". He also played on Rod Stewart's first solo albums. He co-wrote songs like "Gasoline Alley" and "Every Picture Tells a Story".

In 1972, Wood and Faces bassist Ronnie Lane created the music for the film Mahoney's Last Stand. The soundtrack was released as an album in 1976. It featured other Faces members and musicians like Pete Townshend and Eric Clapton. Wood also performed at Clapton's Rainbow Concert in 1973.

In 1973, Wood asked his friend Mick Taylor to help with his first solo album. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards also contributed to the album. I've Got My Own Album to Do was released in 1974. It was recorded at Wood's home studio near London.

After Mick Taylor left the Rolling Stones in 1974, Wood joined their recording sessions in March 1975. He toured North America with the Rolling Stones that year. Faces announced their breakup in December 1975. Wood officially became a member of the Rolling Stones on April 23, 1976.

In the Rolling Stones, Wood plays slide guitar and sometimes lap steel or pedal steel guitar. He often switches between rhythm and lead guitar with Keith Richards. He has also played bass guitar on some songs. Wood has writing credit for several Rolling Stones songs.

In 1975, Wood released his second solo album, Now Look. His third, Gimme Some Neck, came out in 1979. To promote it, Wood formed a band called the New Barbarians. They played concerts in Canada, the US, and the UK.

Music in the 1980s

Throughout the 1980s, Wood was an official member of the Rolling Stones. He also continued his solo career, releasing the album 1234 in 1981. He worked with many other artists, including Prince, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, and Aretha Franklin.

At the 1985 Live Aid Concert in Philadelphia, Wood performed with Bob Dylan. When one of Dylan's guitar strings broke, Wood gave him his own guitar. Wood then played "air guitar" until he got a replacement.

From the 1990s to the 2010s

Wood during the Rolling Stones 50 & Counting tour in December 2012

Wood became a full partner in the Rolling Stones' financial organization in 1990. During the 1990s, the Rolling Stones released two studio albums and three concert albums. They also toured extensively.

Wood released his seventh solo album, Slide on This, in 1992. He toured North America and Japan to promote it. In 1993, he appeared with Rod Stewart on MTV Unplugged, which led to a hit album.

Wood also played slide guitar on Bo Diddley's 1996 album A Man Amongst Men.

Since 2000, Wood has balanced his solo work with the Rolling Stones. After his 2001 album Not For Beginners, he toured England and Ireland with the Ronnie Wood Band. This band included family members and other musicians like Slash. A DVD called Far East Man was released after the tour.

Ronnie Wood, Bill Wyman and Mick Hucknall at Faces reunion performance, 25 October 2009

Wood toured with the Rolling Stones in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, he performed several concerts and guest appearances, including with Rod Stewart. In 2005, he was busy with the Rolling Stones recording their A Bigger Bang album and touring until 2007.

In 2005, Wood started his own record company, Wooden Records. It has released music by his daughter Leah and the New Barbarians.

In November 2006, Wood played guitar on three songs for British soul artist Beverley Knight's album Music City Soul.

On August 11, 2009, Wood joined Pearl Jam on stage in London. They performed "All Along the Watchtower".

On October 25, 2009, Wood, Ian McLagan, and Kenney Jones reunited for a Faces performance. Bill Wyman played bass, and several singers shared lead vocals. Rod Stewart was not present.

On November 2, 2009, Wood received an "Outstanding Contribution" award at the Classic Rock Roll of Honour ceremony in London. Pete Townshend presented the award.

Since April 9, 2010, Wood has hosted his own radio show on Absolute Radio. The show features music by artists he has worked with and his personal favorites. In May 2011, he won the Sony Radio Personality of the Year award for his show.

Other Creative Ventures

Ronnie Wood's Artwork

Wood at his art exhibition in Hotel Kramer Malmö 1988.

Wood is also a well-known visual artist. As a child, his drawings were shown on the BBC television programme Sketch Club. He won a competition on the show, which he called his "awakening to art." He later studied at the Ealing Art College, where his brothers also trained. Other famous musicians like Freddie Mercury and Pete Townshend also attended this college.

Wood's paintings, drawings, and prints often feature famous people and have been shown worldwide. He created the cover art for Eric Clapton's 1988 box set Crossroads. Some of his paintings are displayed at London's Drury Lane Theatre. Art critic Brian Sewell has called Wood "an accomplished and respectable artist." The South Bank Show even dedicated an entire program to his artwork. Wood also co-owns a London art gallery called Scream with his sons Jamie and Tyrone.

Books, Films, and TV Appearances

Wood has written three books. The first, The Works (1988), is a collection of stories with his artwork. Wood on Canvas: Every Picture Tells a Story (1998) is a limited-edition art book. His 2007 autobiography, Ronnie, was written with his son-in-law Jack MacDonald and Jeffrey Robinson.

Besides many Faces and Rolling Stones films, Wood appeared in the documentary The Last Waltz (1976). He has also made small appearances in movies like The Deadly Bees (1967) and 9½ Weeks (1986). On television, he appeared in The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash (1978). In October 2007, Wood was on the TV show Top Gear.

In 2017, his autobiography Ronnie Wood: Artist was published. He also appeared in the 2023 documentary film Ronnie O'Sullivan: The Edge of Everything.

Interest in Horse Racing

Wood has a long-standing interest in thoroughbred horse breeding and racing. One of his most famous horses is Sandymount Duke. This horse has competed in both flat races and jump racing. In 2019, Sandymount Duke was planned to race in the Grand National at Aintree racecourse, but a training issue prevented it.

Ronnie Wood's Personal Life

Wood with promoter Joseph Donofrio, 2006

Ronnie Wood has six children. His son Jesse is from his first marriage to Krissy Findlay (1971-1978). In 1985, Wood married his second wife, Jo Wood. They had a daughter, Leah, and a son, Tyrone. He also adopted Jamie, Jo Wood's son from a previous relationship. In addition to his children, Wood has six grandchildren.

On December 21, 2012, Wood married Sally Humphreys, who owns a theatre production company. They had twin girls, Gracie Jane and Alice Rose, on May 30, 2016, just before Wood's 69th birthday.

Wood was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017. This required part of one of his lungs to be removed. He chose not to have chemotherapy. In April 2021, Wood announced he had been diagnosed with a small-cell cancer but was later given an "all-clear" by his doctors after treatment.

In 2021, Wood shared that he had been sober for 10 years. He is a fan of the English football club West Bromwich Albion.

Discography

Studio albums

• I've Got My Own Album to Do (1974/Warner Bros.)
• Now Look (1975/Warner Bros.) US No. 118
• Gimme Some Neck (1979/Columbia) US No. 45
• 1234 (1981/Columbia) US No. 164
• Slide on This (1992/Continuum)
• Not for Beginners (2001/SPV)
• I Feel Like Playing (2010/Eagle) UK No. 164

Original soundtrack album

• Mahoney's Last Stand (1976/Warner Bros.) with Ronnie Lane

Live albums

• Live at the Ritz (1988/Victor) with Bo Diddley
• Slide on Live: Plugged in and Standing (1993/Continuum)
• Live & Eclectic (2000/SPV) (reissued in 2002 as Live at Electric Ladyland)
• Buried Alive: Live in Maryland (2006/Wooden) with the New Barbarians
• The First Barbarians: Live from Kilburn (2007/Wooden)
• Live in London: I Feel Like Playing (2011/SHProds)
• Mad Lad: A Live Tribute to Chuck Berry (2019/BMG)
• Mr. Luck – A Tribute to Jimmy Reed: Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2021/BMG)

Compilation

• Always Wanted More (2001/SPV)
• Ronnie Wood Anthology: The Essential Crossexion (2006/Virgin)

Singles

• "Blue Christmas" with Andrea Corr

Other appearances

• "It's Not Easy" with Charlie Sexton for The Wild Life (1984)
• "Silver & Gold" with Bono and Keith Richards for Sun City (1985)
• "Chain of Fools" for Back to the Streets: Celebrating the Music of Don Covay (1993)

With the Jeff Beck Group

• Truth (1968)
• Beck-Ola (1969)

With the Faces

Studio albums

• First Step (1970)
• Long Player (1971)
• A Nod Is As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse (1971)
• Ooh La La (1973)

Live albums

• Coast To Coast: Overture And Beginners (1974)

With the Rolling Stones

Studio albums

• Black and Blue - The Rolling Stones (1976/Atlantic)
• Some Girls (1978/Atlantic)
• Emotional Rescue (1980/Atlantic)
• Tattoo You (1981/Atlantic)
• Undercover (1983/Atlantic)
• Dirty Work (1986/Columbia)
• Steel Wheels (1989/Columbia)
• Voodoo Lounge (1994/Virgin)
• Bridges to Babylon (1997/Virgin)
• A Bigger Bang (2005/Virgin)
• Blue & Lonesome (2016/Polydor)
• Hackney Diamonds (2023/Polydor)

Live albums

• Love You Live (1977/Atlantic)
• Still Life (1982/Atlantic)
• Flashpoint (1991/Virgin)
• Stripped (1995/Virgin)
• No Security (1998/Virgin)
• Live Licks (2004/Virgin)
• Shine a Light (2008/Polydor)

As session musician

• An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down – Rod Stewart (1969)
• Barabajagal – Donovan (1969)
• Gasoline Alley – Rod Stewart (1970)
• Every Picture Tells a Story – Rod Stewart (1971)
• Never a Dull Moment – Rod Stewart (1972)
• Dark Horse – George Harrison (1974)
• Smiler – Rod Stewart (1974)
• It's Only Rock 'n Roll – The Rolling Stones (1974)
• Shot of Love – Bob Dylan (1981)
• Stop and Smell the Roses – Ringo Starr (1981)
• Aretha – Aretha Franklin (1986)
• Knocked Out Loaded – Bob Dylan (1986)
• Desire – Toyah (1987)
• Down in the Groove – Bob Dylan (1988)
• Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds – Izzy Stradlin (1992)
• Thanks – Ivan Neville (1995)
• Deuces Wild – B.B. King (1997)
• Music City Soul – Beverley Knight (2007)
• 11 Past the Hour – Imelda May (2021)

See also

In Spanish: Ronnie Wood para niños