“the golden years...”
Yep. Mick pretty much inferred that as well in an interview. When pressed he said something to the effect of (paraphrasing) - “well I really don’t want to come right out and say that was the peak period of the Rolling Stones do I because that doesn’t speak well about our current line-up does it?”.
But my read from the look on his face was that Ron Wood was there because Keith likes him and keeps him happy. Keith likes the style of two mediocre guitarists weaving in and out. Mick Taylor had a normal guitar soloist style and was a bit of an oddity for Keith to work around.
I forget exactly when that interview took place but it was when Woody was in the band and the lineup guitar-wise hasn’t changed in decades.
Keith was quoted as saying something like "I knew we were getting a new guitarist. I didn't know we were getting a ****ing prodigy"
It's strange how it works out. Ronnie Wood was better w/ the Faces and Rod than he was w/ the Stones. Just the way it goes I guess.
The Rolling Stones were Mick and Keith writing songs. Everyone else were essentially sidemen and Ron Wood was the perfect sideman for Keith. He was about the same age, came from the same era, was used to the touring and partying and he knew his place. That’s why he has been around for so long and he has profited handsomely because of it.
i hated ron wood...
Mick was pretty straight(relative term) when he joined the band, not so much at the end, damn shame