Ronnie Wood's Musical Apprenticeship with Mick Jagger
Ronnie Wood has revealed how he got his start in the Rolling Stones and why he cannot always wear what he wants due to the band's quirks on clothing. The new book Fearless: The Anthology opens his archive, spanning legendary guitars, custom-made straps, vintage pedals and amps, stage wear, and concert setlists – all specially photographed for the hardback.
Alongside the images are Ronnie's words, including how after playing for The Faces with Rod Stewart, he wrote songs for a solo album and then joined the Rolling Stones in 1975. Looking back to recording sessions in 1974, Ronnie recalls: "It was when I was working on that first solo album that my real involvement with the Stones started. Keith [Richards] came over to see me, and four months later he was still there! During that time, Mick Jagger used to come round and help me, too. The place was always full."
Mick Jagger, David Bowie, and Late-Night Sessions
Ronnie describes the chaotic sessions: "Mick would bring David Bowie over. You’d have Gregg Allman and Paul McCartney there, and people were queuing down the stairs. We had so many drummers! Keith Moon, Ringo, Kenney Jones, Andy Newmark, Jim Capaldi. It was nuts."
When writing 'I Can Feel the Fire', Jagger helped, then asked for assistance on 'It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll'. Ronnie said: "So we ran through it, bouncing ideas to and fro. Bowie and I were singing background vocals, and Willie Weeks was playing bass. Andy Newmark had fallen asleep or gone away. Either way, we didn’t have a drummer, so we woke up Kenney in the middle of the night."
The Song Swap That Launched a Career
Ronnie recalled: "The session came together with odds and ends, but we got the basic track. Afterwards, I thought, ‘Oh, that was a good album track’. I had no idea that it was going to do so well. Mick said, ‘I’ve got a deal, you can keep I Can Feel the Fire, and I’ll keep, It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll. I had no bargaining power, but that was OK. It was my apprenticeship.’"
'I Can Feel the Fire' ended up on Ronnie’s 1974 solo album, I’ve Got My Own Album to Do. Jagger's 'It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll (But I Like It)' became the title track for the Rolling Stones 1974 album, reaching No. 2 in both the US and UK.
Joining the Rolling Stones and Song Approval
After Mick Taylor left the Stones, Ronnie filled the gap and joined in 1975, following The Faces' official split that year. He was invited to Montreux to record with the Stones and offered a song called 'Hey Negrita', which made the album. However, he notes it is tough to get songs on Stones LPs.
On the latest album Foreign Tongues, he has no tracks. Ronnie explains: "To get on a Stones album, a song has to be passed by the board. Jagger and Richards don’t accept suggestions very easily because they’ve already got it sewn up. You’ve got to have a pretty good song to get it approved, which I respect." Once in the studio, he says Jagger and Richards make things easy: "With the Stones, you’ll have a song that’s laid on a plate because Mick or Keith will have come up with a riff, and they’ll interpret what the song needs for me. I always give my best, and the process feels very natural."
Outfit Ban: No Clashing on Stage
The book features outfits Ronnie wears on stage, sourced by a team scouring markets for vintage items and creating new ones. Ronnie changes outfit three times during each performance, with timing determined by the setlist. The day before the performance, photographs of Ronnie’s outfits are taken alongside those of Mick’s to ensure the colors complement. However, Keith Richards takes a more spontaneous approach, choosing his outfit shortly before going on stage.
A Charmed Life and Continued Learning
Ending the anthology, Ronnie admits he has lived a charmed life. He has been married three times, has six children, and has beaten drink and drug addictions. He concludes: "My guitars are the tools of my trade. They are really precious to me, and it’s amazing to see them documented in this book. I’ve been blessed with an ability to play the instrument, and I’ve definitely been lucky to be in the right place at the right time (with a bit of manipulation on my part)."
"I was looking for an adventure, and I certainly got that. People say, ‘If you’re going to be successful at something, pick something you enjoy doing’, and they’re right. The smile is all over my face because I love playing guitar and love the challenge of learning something new, and I’m still learning new things."
Ronnie Wood’s Fearless: The Anthology is published by Genesis Publications.
