HE was known as one of rock’s most prolific party animals who wrote the rulebook for hedonism.
But Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood is now more likely to be found sipping on a green juice and bingeing episodes of Ripley on Netflix.
In fact, Ronnie admits the best highs he’s ever had are after playing to tens of thousands of fans — many of whom have flown from the UK to the US, like me, to watch the band kick off their huge Hackney Diamonds tour in Houston, Texas.
In an exclusive chat from the NRG Stadium, where more than 72,000 of us were packed in for the first night of the 19-date US tour, Ronnie says: “The adrenalin high is stronger than any drug or alcohol.
“The natural high is the best one you can have, it exceeds drugs or alcohol.
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“I like to have my green juices now and I do workouts with my trainer just light workouts and stretches to keep my circulation going, which is what you need when you’re older.
“It’s always a big party on the road but I like to have my quiet time. I’m addicted to Ripley.”
Alongside bandmates Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Ronnie tore through a mega 18-song set list on Sunday night, with Mess It Up, Angry and Sweet Sounds Of Heaven the only three tracks from Hackney Diamonds which made the set list of classics.
It’s an impressive feat, given Mick and Keith were 80 last year while Ronnie turns 77 in June.
“We owe it to our fans to include as many big songs as we can,” explains Ronnie.
“But we like to mix up the old and the new, that is what we love to do.”
The trio have spent the past month rehearsing in Los Angeles and Ronnie reveals they had a little help from old pal Sir Paul McCartney, who features on Hackney Diamonds track Bite My Head Off.
“Paul is so great and really supportive,” Ronnie tells me.
“He came to a few rehearsals and gave us some really nice input.
“Paul threw me and (my wife) Sally a going away party from LA.
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“He invited Neil Young as my surprise guest at the dinner.
“It was so lovely.
“He is an old buddy of mine and I haven’t seen him in years.
“We’re going to get together again in Louisiana and go to the New Orleans blues festival.”
He adds: “We really had our noses to the grindstone in LA and we rehearsed for five weeks.
“We have been getting back into the mode of playing stadiums.”
This tour, which celebrates No1 album Hackney Diamonds, comes two years after the Stones last played in the UK on their 60th anniversary tour, which included a massive show at BST Hyde Park.
And although we are 5,000 miles from home, Ronnie — who has six kids and six grandchildren — is making the gigs a family affair, with his seven-year-old twin girls with Sally joining him on the road.
Ronnie says: “My little twin girls, they are both just so lovely.
“I’ve got all my family out here, all my elder kids and the grandkids as well. It is amazing.
“Everyone is so keen to see Grandad play with his mates.”
To make the tour even more memorable, Ronnie reveals his son Tyrone will also be getting married this summer, to American businesswoman Faye Harris.
“Ty and Faye are getting married straight after the tour,” Ronnie says with a smile. “That is going to be amazing.”
After six decades on the road together, you’d forgive most bands for needing to spend more time apart.
But the camaraderie among the Stones is clear to see, with Mick grabbing hold of Ronnie and squeezing him so tightly I thought his eyes might pop out as they took a final bow on stage.
After losing drummer Charlie Watts in 2021, the trio are now joined on the road by Steve Jordan, who more than earns his stripes on stage, while backing singer Chanel Haynes gives Lady Gaga a run for her money with her vocals on Sweet Sounds Of Heaven.
And it is obvious to see that the friendship between Mick, Keith and Ronnie, who have sold 200million records worldwide and notched up eight No1 singles and 14 No1 albums as the Stones, is only getting stronger.
“Being with Mick and Keith, I’ve learned about the ups and downs of true friendship,” Ronnie says with a laugh.
“But with all the ups and downs, with being misread, you just sort it out.
“As long as you address things and keep it fresh and honest, that is all that you can do.
“Mick rang me yesterday and we were talking about the production rehearsal and it was like fresh, it was like he was a new pal and we’ve known each other for all those years.
“The funny thing is, we are always trying to get better. We are always trying to brush up.
“It is all from the heart, that is where we get everything.”
CAUGHT LIVE
ROLLING STONES @ The NRG Stadium, Houston
★★★★★
IT’S 80 and not out for the Rolling Stones, who proved age really is just a number as they kicked off the first night of their Hackney Diamonds tour.
Frontman Mick was on top form as he repeatedly flashed his rock-hard stomach muscles, much to the delight of the deafening crowd, including one woman who repeatedly shrieked: “Mick, I want to have your babies,” in my left ear.
The group set the tone from the off, with Start Me Up whipping their fans up into a frenzy before the Stones took them on a whistlestop tour of some of the best songs from their sprawling back catalogue.
Hackney hits Angry and Sweet Sounds Of Heaven already sound like classics, with the killer vocals of Chanel Haynes bringing everyone in the crowd to their feet.
Her incredible range and energy pairs perfectly with Mick and I felt shivers when they performed Gimme Shelter, and watching her parents’ reaction next to me in the crowd made it all the more special.
Keith and Ronnie’s excellence in their craft shines through on Beast Of Burden and Miss You, with the former nailing his vocals on Little T&A.
And those green juices seemed to have done Ronnie the world of good, as he ran up and down a huge central platform with ease while lapping up the cheers from the crowd.
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction was the perfect ending to a brilliant night of live music.
Their wrinkles might be deeper and their knees a little achier but the Stones are still giving musicians a quarter of their age a run for their money when it comes to playing live.
There is nothing else to say but, the Stones still have it. In spades.
SIR Mick gives a sweet nod to his late partner L’Wren Scott on the tour, wearing clothes, including jazzy sequined jackets and blazers from one of her favourite designers, Jayne Hayward.
L’Wren and Mick dated for around 13 years until her death in 2014.
Keith chose classic pieces from Dior and Celine and, like Mick, also wore some from Dries Van Noten’s archive.
While Ronnie had a wardrobe handmade for him by designer Daniel James, who interprets keen artist Ronnie’s work into his clobber.
FRONTMAN Mick was supported at the show by his long-term girlfriend Melanie Hamrick and energetic son Deveraux.
The former ballerina shared videos on Instagram account, including one of the seven-year-old doing dance moves as his dad strutted in front of him on stage.
He said on stage: “It’s been a great few days in Houston.
“I took an amazing trip to the space center. That was great.”
Then referencing a popular Texan snack sold in Buc-ee's gas stations, he added: “I was a bit disappointed there were no Beaver Nuggets there.”
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DOJA Cat was all fur coat and just knickers as she made a kooky appearance on a red carpet.
She turned up carrying a battered old suitcase and holding a half- drunk glass of wine – which isn’t far off what I looked like as I made it to the airport in Houston today to fly back to London after a night with the Rolling Stones.
Doja wore this quirky get-up to the Daily Front Row Awards in Los Angeles, which is supposed to be an event celebrating fashion.
If that’s what the catwalks are after this season, perhaps I’ve got a future as a model after all.
