Ron Wood

Picture by (c)Fernando Aceves

Ronnie Wood was born in Middlesex, England, the youngest child in a musical and artistic family. Ron's father, Arthur, played in a 24 piece harmonica band that appeared at race tracks all around the country and his two elder brothers, Art and Ted, were part of the British jazz and blues explosion of the late 1950's and early 1960's. Ronnie himself first appeared on-stage at the age of nine, playing the washboard with his brothers in a skiffle band at the Marlborough Cinema near London Airport.

Ronnie's love of music went hand in hand with a love of drawing and sketching that took him in his teens to Ealing Art College. British art schools were then a melting pot for the new rock 'n' roll and rhythm & blues scenes. During this time, Ronnie joined a band called The Thunderbirds, later to be called The Birds. The Birds' main claim to fame was a lawsuit which put them on the cover of the "Melody Maker" in 1965 when their American "rivals" The Byrds first toured Britain.

Though The Birds eventually went their separate ways, Ronnie had no doubt that music would remain the major influence in his life. He soon met up with former Yardbird member Jeff Beck who'd just recruited Rod Stewart. Ronnie started off on guitar alongside Beck but soon switched to bass. The Jeff Beck Group formed in 1967 and became a major force on the emerging American underground, helping to define the new genre of heavy rock. When the band split shortly before Woodstock, Ronnie and Rod Stewart promptly teamed up with the remainders of The Smells to form The Faces. The Faces were the ultimate British "good time" rock 'n' roll band and their live shows quickly became legendary.

In 1974 The Faces would come to a halt due to the demands of Rod Stewart's emerging solo career, and Ronnie's increasing appearances with The Rolling Stones. Ronnie had always felt he would one day join the Stones and his vision was about to become a reality.

Ronnie has painted portraits of many artists like Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Annie Lennox, and Madonna. Of course, Ron Wood also paints the Stones.

Some Examples of Ron's Art Work