Book Review: Rock & Roll Books

Ronnie

Maybe it's the fact that Ronnie Wood didn't become a member of the Rolling Stones until 1976 that kept him from being known as the lovable one. According to his new autobiography, a dodgy affair that leaves quite a few stones unturned, his musical mates – including Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck, and Austin's own Ian McLagan – and romantic partners alike found Wood's come-ons irresistible. Growing up on a modest estate near London's Heathrow Airport, Wood rose to musical prominence with relative ease. As soon as he learned to hold his liquor, the guitarist began attending shows at the Ealing Club, where Jagger and Richards, Keith Moon, Mick Fleetwood, and Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience all got their start. The rest, as they say, is history. Wood was recruited by the Faces and the Jeff Beck Group before joining the Stones. He helped pull Clapton out of his heroin haze and destroyed a few hotel rooms. Despite his newfound sobriety, Woody remains unembarrassed about his love of the ladies and his freebasing years in L.A., yet this breezy look back lacks real gravitas. Fans will be left with little sense of what Woody's more famous bandmates are like, and too many typos strike a sour note.