Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wooden has an deal with ebook that’s fatter and extra well-thumbed than most. Through the years he’s partied with the nice and the great of rock’n’roll and past – and he may even bear in mind a few of it. In 2010, he took a stroll down reminiscence lane to look again on among the extra memorable encounters he’s had down the a long time.
Jimi Hendrix
We shared a home in Holland Park – Pat [PP] Arnold’s home – and he gave me a basset hound referred to as Snoopy that used to shit in every single place. Pat mentioned: “Both the canine goes otherwise you two go”. So Jimi mentioned: “Why don’t I’m going and you retain my canine? I’ve bought to maneuver on anyway”. He was fairly quiet as a flatmate: Quaaluded-up on a regular basis. And spliffed. Very laid again. He’d simply sit again and play right-handed or left-handed guitar – that ambidextrousness blew my thoughts. If I attempt to play left-handed it’s like giving a toddler a guitar. We used to get out the acoustics and swap blues licks, generally for him to warm-up earlier than a present. He all the time mentioned: “I don’t like my voice”. And I’d say: “Don’t fear, your guitar enjoying takes care of that.” He was a really candy man. I bear in mind him strolling out of Ronnie Scott’s on the evening he died. He had his arm round a woman and I shouted after him: “Oi, Jimi, say goodnight!” I used to be in tears once I came upon the subsequent day. I couldn’t consider it.
Ronnie Lane
He was a beautiful boy, till he took the gypsy route and moved to some distant farm in Wales along with his greatest buddy’s lady. It all the time was once Ronnie and Sue Lane, all the time along with their canine Molly. Then sooner or later he got here spherical and mentioned: “I’m leaving Sue. And I’m additionally leaving the group.” And I went: “What? Good joke!” We all the time used to say that we had been leaving throughout group arguments, it will dispel any dangerous vibes within the room and we’d all have fun. However he mentioned: “No, I actually am leaving the group”. That was the final I noticed of him, after which his well being went down. The MS [Multiple Sclerosis] bought progressively worse. We did our greatest for him, Rod and I investigated snake venom remedy, strain tanks, however after some time there was little or no we might do.
Rod Stewart
Final time I noticed Rod he was so beautiful to me. He gave me and my girlfriend a beautiful night. We had dinner along with his household at his Celtic Home in Hollywood. It’s very Hollywood, with effigies within the backyard, columns, water-spouting fountains. It’s a extremely excessive mansion, identical to you’ll think about. Rod likes to indicate his wealth, along with his assortment of Pre-Raphaelite kind work. He usually says to me: “Is that one alright? Did I purchase the appropriate portray?” And I’m going: “Rod, purchase what ever you need, you realize what you want.”
Jeff Beck
He was once extremely shy when had been in The Jeff Beck Group, as was Rod. If there was one other guitar participant like BB King or Albert King on the invoice he’d go: “No, I can’t go on,” and he’d disappear as a result of he’d suppose he wasn’t adequate. Rod can be like: “I’m gonna sing behind the amps, I’m too shy,” and I’d say: “Why don’t you simply come out and revel in yourselves?” That’s the way it developed with The Faces – we removed all of the nerves. Every little thing was a threat, some dangers got here off and a few didn’t and the viewers picked up on that looseness and raggedness. There’s nonetheless a little bit of that with The Faces. You’ll be able to’t polish a turd – except you await it to go exhausting.
Keith Richards
He’s not blissful except he’s working with the Stones, neither is Charlie [Watts, Stones drummer] actually… neither is Mick and nor am I. However it’s a matter of getting all these energies directed on the identical factor on the identical time. The following factor can be a bunch assembly, most likely earlier than Christmas, and we’ll resolve whether or not to file, or do dwell, or each. See how all people’s doing.
Once I first took Keith residence he was excessive, and crashed out on my dad’s sofa in the lounge. So my dad come down at seven within the morning, opens the curtains and Keith went: [bellows] “Fuck off!” And my dad got here straight again with “No person swears in my home!” and ordered him out. Keith had an incredible quantity of respect for my dad after that.
Bob Dylan
Working with Bob could be exhausting for most individuals, however not for me, as a result of I do know that he doesn’t know what’s coming subsequent, so it’s simple to slot in along with his meanderings. You must observe him into numerous ox bow lakes. That’s the way in which he thinks – it finally ends up getting in a straight line, however takes numerous deviations alongside the way in which. Typically a music that he’s considering a technique will come out in a very completely different manner, which is obvious whenever you see him dwell. You’ll be saying: “Was that Blowing In The Wind or All Alongside The Watchtower?”
Axl Rose & Slash
Weapons N’ Roses and the Stones did a couple of reveals collectively on the Bridges To Babylon tour and that’s once I bought to know them. They had been actually candy guys, however all of them knew they had been too excessive to hold on at that price. Axl used to name me apart at events and he’d exit on the balcony and say: “Please assist me with my relationship issues”. So I instructed him: “Initially you’ve bought to get some fucking coherency.” It was humorous giving him recommendation ’cos on the time I used to be out of it as effectively. Slash was all the time a continuing. I didn’t discover any distinction between when he was excessive and when he was straight. He’s much more clear lately, however he was all the time a gentleman whether or not he was utilizing or not.
John Belushi
He all the time used to attempt to get off with my ex-wife, Jo. He used to suggest to her once I was asleep. I’d say: “John, I can hear you, you fats git. When you weren’t so fats and ugly you would possibly stand an opportunity.” Like all comedians he was actually pathetic, and he had a low tolerance to alcohol and medicines. Dan Aykroyd used to all the time put him in my care when he got here to Hollywood. He used to drop him off at my home and say: “I do know he’s protected now, I can go off and depart him.” Then he’d go off and do his stuff. The one time he didn’t try this was when he died. John booked himself into the Chateau Marmont. He dearly wished to be a rock star.
Keith Moon
Moony used to return up and jam with us after we had been in The Birds. I all the time used to say to him: “Keith, you’re solely imagined to take one Valium, not the entire jumbo bottle.” He used to try this with uppers and downers, take the whole thing. He gave me my first Mandrax once they first got here out – once they had been actually highly effective. He mentioned: “Take two of those.” We had been within the Speakeasy. I had my Jaguar XK150 outdoors and I used to be with my first spouse, Chrissie, and my supervisor, Billy Gaff. We’d already had a couple of whiskies, so though he gave me two I solely took one. It kicked in earlier than I bought to the underside of the steps, so by the point I bought to my automobile I used to be effectively gone. I ended up driving straight over Marble Arch and straight over Hyde Park with out going spherical. I ended up in a mews with simply sufficient room to get the automobile in and nobody might get out. We needed to get out of the roof. After that I don’t bear in mind something. I used to be sick. I don’t know the way I bought residence, so not an amazing suggestion from Moony. He used to steer me astray, however my mum used to suppose he was a gentleman. He used to place a smoking jacket and cravat on and serve her brandy and he or she would say: “What a well mannered gentleman that Keith Moon is.”
Pete Townshend
I first met Pete, who continues to be a neighbour of mine, again within the outdated Ealing Membership days when The Who first had I Can’t Clarify within the charts. I used to be in The Birds they usually had been going: “We’re primary!” And we had been going: “Fuck off again to Acton!” We had been so jealous. The Excessive Numbers had been sensible, and the early Who, particularly on the Marquee, had been unimaginable. They’re nonetheless nice right this moment, however there was nothing fairly so electrical as the unique line-up.
Eric Clapton
He’s all the time very suspicious of me, however he takes me beneath his wing. He’s very happy that I’m clear and serene, however he simply doubts that I can stick with it. I used to go each week to the Crawdaddy in Richmond to see Eric with the Yardbirds. The primary time I used to be ever invited up on stage there was when [Yardbirds singer] Keith Relf was in poor health. They mentioned: “Are there any harmonica gamers within the viewers?” and all my mates pushed me up. So I did I’m A Man and all their raving stuff, they usually mentioned: “Get that purple Indian again… Cleopatra,” as a result of my hair was all the time like this. “Get him again on stage.” That was my declare to fame. I’d performed with the Yardbirds. I used to be all the time the teenager in them days, the newcomer. However it’s nice, I’m nonetheless the youngest one.
Ronnie O’Sullivan
A really candy, very mysterious individual… and his personal worst enemy – a bit like all these snooker gamers. One minute you see them on a regular basis, then you’ll be able to’t discover them for love nor cash. Ronnie’s like that in the mean time. He’s bought the fixed combat with the alcohol and medicines – like all of us appear to have – all of us, musicians, snooker gamers, artists, writers… Any of the inventive sports activities. Ronnie’s checked me into restoration a couple of occasions and he’s mentioned: “Take my room, it’s the great room. I got here out and gained the world championship after I used to be in right here.” He’s been actually useful in my restoration.
Mick Jagger
Mick has been so supportive, I can’t inform you. It actually shocked me as a result of I assumed he would have given up the ghost on me by now, however he’s getting stronger along with his dedication of assist. He’s saying: “Nicely performed, Ronnie… I want at the very least one and a half guitar gamers I can depend on.” And now he’s bought two full-blooded ones, so he’s very blissful. What he needs to see is me displaying the power to not fall off the wagon and probably messing up, as a result of he wants me as a extremely concrete assist, like Charlie, when he places on his present. And he’s bought it. I’m prepared any time.
Initially printed in Traditional Rock situation 151, October 2010
