Ronnie Wood's Early Days in Music (1964-69)

Ronnie Wood's work with The Faces and the Rolling Stones is well known to rock fans all over the world. But Ronnie got his start in music in 1964.
Between 1964 and 1969, Ronnie Wood played with bands like The Birds and The Creation. And he also played bass for Jeff Beck.
This video will be focused on his early days in music, and we're also going to take a look at his session work during that period.

[@gesundheit602]

What a fantastic musician Ronnie is! My favorite thing about him though, is that he is always smiling and looks like he’s having the time of his life. 🙂

[@cliffords2315]

His Bass playing is even better than his guitar playing, but hard to keep a guy like him away from the spotlight of playing Lead. (I have that same problem myself) Listen to the early Jeff Beck Group albums (2) Where Ronnie plays bass, the song "Spanish Boots" is still my favorite Bass playing and lead bass at the end is really rocking hard.

[@user-pv9ev3nu6s]

@@cliffords2315 Wood plays bass on "Shattered".

[@marrrtin]

Amazing deep dive, thorough and making it clear that pretty well all of Ronnie's back catalogue deserves a lot more attention.

[@danstone8783]

This was like a university level class in pop music history, I can;t imagine this slice of history being presented any more professionally. Yespterday's Papers has set a new level of excellence that has surpassed its last new level of excellence. Well done sir! As always I eagerly await more education.

[@jerrywatt6813]

Great history lesson Ronnie was a busy young man the first two beck lp's are still my favorites Thanks YP CHEERS!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers!

[@winslowredcross2835]

This was a great documentary on Ronnie Wood's early history. Very well done. Thank you!! Ronnie really should get more recognition for his innovative guitar work before the Faces and the Stones. The guy is a legend!

[@joewilliams3919]

Tremendous historical work - I was a Stones freak as a youngster in the 70s, and I’ll never forget Ronnie’s solo on Can’t Always Get What You Want on Love You Live - I can see why the Stones brought him in - he is a band member, and meshes so well you don’t always notice him - hard to believe it’s been almost 50 years with the band

[@spyderlogan4992]

I first saw and heard Ronnie Wood playing bass with the Jeff Beck Group on October 20, 1968 at the Alexandria Roller Rink, Alexandria, Virginia. They opened up for Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company~!!! The 'Truth' album had been released August 1st, and it was sensational with all my guitar playing high school garage band buddies. Once again, YP, you're bringing back the great, but not forgotten, musical memories of my youth. Thanks, YP~!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Wow!

[@arniestewart9768]

Zo

[@williamsadler6467]

Wow, you bring back memories. I wasn't there in '68, but saw so many groups at the Alexandria Roller Rink back in '70-'71. Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Yes, Humble Pie, and more I have forgotten.

[@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe]

Opened for who?

[@spyderlogan4992]

@@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe Janis Joplin/Big Brother.

[@markallen2984]

Ron Wood’s autobiography is one of the best rock bios I have ever read, and I’ve read a lot of them

[@robertogonzo541]

I read them as well will check his out👌

[@danielramage6237]

He told some whoppers. For example, he said Peter Grant asked him to play guitar for what would become Led Zeppelin. Never happened, Jimmy Page started the band as a vehicle for himself and never considered another guitarist. The book was pretty funny, but not entirely factual.

[@tomhaskett5161]

Off topic a bit, but I really liked 'Stone Alone' by Bill Whyman

[@donwoodard2204]

Yes I read it !!! Another awesome autobiography ' All the Rage ' by Ian Mclagen keyboardist for Small Faces and Faces, killer stories !!!!

[@smfvmd]

The Birds, The Who, The Yardbirds, The Pretty Things, The Spencer Davis Group, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, The Graham Bond Organisation, Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band, Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, Them, The Steampacket, The Brian Auger Trinity, I saw them all up and close at Pete Stringfellow’s Mojo Club in that period.

[@RickyRicardo-jd8ed]

Sure❤

[@AliKHAN-mq8br]

Happy man! A.❤

[@Paul-tk2my]

I don’t suppose they printed tickets then with the bands logo on, but if they did, have you still got any? That’s a fair old cross-section of the British blues scene you’ve got there

[@smfvmd]

@@Paul-tk2my there weren’t any tickets, you just paid on the door. Apart from Georgie Fame which was an all-nighter and maybe the Who, I don’t think I paid more than five bob for any of them.

[@donwoodard2204]

Wow you Rule !!! I love those bands !!!

[@ps-mq7tm]

Ronnie Wood was born to be a Rolling Stone!

[@michaelolz]

Hardly anyone talks about Ronnie Wood’s guitar work. He’s super powerful. His playing is sublime.

[@deedeechur]

A friend of mine, a huge Stones fan, said to me once : Ronnie can do just about anything on guitar. Great musician for sure, love him.

[@a.nobodys.nobody]

Huh, we have the same name 😅

[@ronchapman6525]

Not nearly as sublime as Mick Taylor.

[@benjaminbaird9303]

Ronnie Wood is a great player

[@erepsekahs]

Sublime is hardly the word old garcon.

[@dalecooper5841]

When I discover the Birds some years ago, this band completly blown my mind and the image Id got from Ronnie changed totally... What a guitar sound, part of my love for Telecaster

[@bobt5778]

Raw single coil tone - nothing like it. I love 50's P basses for the same reason.

[@dalecooper5841]

@@bobt5778 We’re in the same line😉

[@australianchartentries60sa35]

Ronnie is a wonderful guitarist. Never gets plaudits and I can never understand why? His later work with Rod Stewart is sublime

[@Womble1252]

For sure I prefer him over many of the big guitarists of the 60's & 70's etc. Plays for the music with great parts, tone and soul for days

[@KittyGrizGriz]

I love Ronnie, too! He’s also a superior 🖼️ 👨‍🎨

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Agreed. The first 4 or 5 solo albums by Rod Stewart are excellent.

[@marguskiis7711]

Wood's solo albums are surprisingly good too.

[@zog97xy]

He is crap.

[@Transterra55]

Thanks for my bachelor of arts in Ronnie Wood… Just when I thought I knew a good deal about him, your video was a real education in the musical history of his life.

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

Getting to know more about my next-door Neighbour Ronnie Woods who lives across the field from me, It is a recorded fact that Ronnie Wood's life in music is almost equal to the full history of rock music

[@MikeDial]

It should be inspiring to any musician to see how long someone well-known bubbled just below the surface for so long before becoming famous.

[@EdwinJack64]

Phenomenal! The Birds and the Creation were fantastic bands filled with inventive guitar sounds. And I think Ronnie's hair was longer than most guys in 1965 😂!

[@familydogg1234]

I met Ron Wood after seeing him first row ( well I was standing( for 1 shows him and Bo Diddley. He used my Ron Wood/ Chuck Berry button 10th anniversary for the Ritz as a pick for " Amazing Grace". Then I got 2 autographs was let in his trailer where I also met his wife!!!! I told him " I'm going to get your book and love it!" This was 1987. Can't wait for the Faces recordings Rod Stewart announced last August at Bethel Woods that the remaining Faces will be doing. Thats funny Jon Lord was in Santa Barbara Machine Head- Deep Purple had an LP " Machine Head". BTW Jeff Beck did record " Hi Ho Silver Lining" in 1967. " Tallyman" wasnt was the only song recorded in 1967. Also the Jeff Beck Group are on 3 songs for THE GTOs " Permanant Damage LP Frank Zappa produced. Thanks!!!!! As usual- Great Show!!!*****

[@RickyRicardo-jd8ed]

Yep

[@brucebanninga4388]

I have been hearing about Faces recording new music! Hope something comes of it! 😊

[@donwoodard2204]

Ronnie's bass playing on "Truth" still blows me away !!!!❤

[@30mouse]

Agreed, incredible bass playing he did on Truth, and a perfect foil to Jeff.....

[@jonathanbirch2022]

He played bass like a lead guitarist

[@donwoodard2204]

Agreed !! Still play Truth and Beck Ola often.

[@FlipDahlenburg]

@@jonathanbirch2022 Yes, but he did not usurp the basic function of the bass in a group. And it fit in so well!

[@giovannicampanaro7165]

I am pretty sure Jeff Beck played the bass solo on Beck-0la wish I could remember which song that was like a lead guitar

[@davidellis5141]

It wouldn't be until 1974 that Ronnie finally released a solo album.The cleverly titled & underrated I've Got My Own Album To Do.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

I love that record.

[@jpedini]

Yeah it was called that because apparently guys like George Harrison and Mick Jagger would keep telling him "can I go home soon I've got my own album to do..." 😁

[@nigden1]

Great Picture of Ronnie with the late, and very great, Steve Marriott.

[@terryf5131]

To think about all those shows that were taped over....ugh. My boy and I are getting together with Ron on May 15 2024 in Seattle..(along with about 70.000 other fans) great video!!👍

[@victorformosa228]

Only knew of Ronnie Wood from his time in the New faces and the Stones, didn't know he wrote and played great songs in the early days of his career, thanks for another great post yp.

[@FriedAudio]

There's so much information packed into these videos, that I have to view them like three times to get them into my head. 😉

[@dwaynewladyka577]

This was so awesome. I'm a longtime fan of Ronnie Wood. Truth and Beck-Ola are brilliant albums. The Faces made incredible music. Ronnie Wood was the ideal choice for the Rolling Stones, who I did see live. One of the outstanding British musicians. Cheers! ✌️

[@hombreenojado]

I still can't believe how underrated Ron Wood is. I've seen the Stones twice, and Ron Wood was playing lead at both shows.

[@deedeechur]

Ronnie is in my top 5 favourite guitarists. The Faces is such a great band.

[@MartinArthurs-ns6fc]

No Oasis, without Faces. Fact

[@JD-te2pv]

Aaahh... the 60's was the best time for rock music! THANKS for the memories. We need more of this look back archive.

[@Truckngirl]

Very, very cool! Well researched, as always. Thank you!

[@pariaheep]

Awesome great work on Ronnie Wood: deeply appreciated... I learned A LOT with this vid, THANKS!

[@thejigantics2641]

Ronnie and the original members of the Birds come from my home town West Drayton and Yiewsley, in Middlesex. Ronnie was a Yiewsleyite who was born and lived around the corner from my Grandmother. As a kid I went to lots of Birds gigs. My Dad who was a self employed driving instructor taught Kim Gardner…bass player and then Ronnie to drive. Ron still owes him for two lessons, saying at the time he didn’t have the money and would pay Dad later. We’re still waiting.

[@julenepegher6999]

I love Ronnie most with the Faces, the catalog up til then is fascinating though, my heart belongs with Faces.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

I love The Faces, too. Brilliant band.

[@richardtaylor8189]

That was very entertaining and informative. Lots of wonderful music here! Thank you.

[@chuckdee66]

Top Shelf as always. Love the Birds! And Creation! And Ronnie Wood. But, who doesn't!!!

[@heinz-guntherszatmary288]

Oh what a nice history of Mr.Wood i like it.Thanks.🎸

[@grahampaulkendrick7845]

What a great summary! There's some fantastic footage in there. If only more footage had survived. I love both the Birds, the Creation and that version of the Jeff Beck Group. I always wondered how Ron was in Creation and the Jeff Beck Group at the same time in '68.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers Graham!

[@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973]

I first heard about the Birds from an interview with Lemmy from Motorhead who said he used to go see them. They were a pretty heavy group for the time. Good sound . Ron's bass playing with Jeff Beck Group is outstanding. I like playing that stuff

[@adammercer8342]

Very nice video, great footage, guitars and girls!

[@festersuncle6298]

I've had a great compilation LP since the late 90's. Always a quality listen. The Action, Artwoods, The Creation.

[@skeetlegeetles9449]

Ron Wood. A great addition in any group he was in. Great history and a great guitarist. Thanks for this YP!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers!

[@terryrichards9613]

I saw the Birds last performance. Rod Stewart was present and stated that Ronnie Wood was joining him with the Faces. Great guitarist, a Birds legend. The group deserved more fame than they received.

[@Iluvthe1960s]

Fantastic video with some info that I never knew about Ronnie I’ve been collecting since 1972 and thought by now at aged 66 I’d picked up most information on artists I liked but so much stuff in here I never knew he played on. Thank you for another great video

[@walterfechter8080]

Solid! Thanks, Ronnie! Thanks, Yesterday's Papers!

[@bugeanuflorin1531]

Fabulous performance music. Thanks for posting them. Good time for you

[@Glendoras]

This was great! Wood’s early career produced some of the eras greatest music.

[@ModTrash]

Brilliant as always YP. Such a shame so many performances were recorded over, but tape was expensive back then. I was told all the Ready Steady Go episodes were recorded over by The Magic Roundabout, not sure how true that is. Just three full episodes remain sadly.

[@phillipmcmullen316]

Great tunes, great links, so much stuff I’d never heard of!…keep it real 🤟💕

[@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys]

This was a very informative video about Ronnie and I have always wondered how he found the Stones and when. I see he is an original artist like all of The Stones and he is a perfect fit for them and I enjoy seeing him along with Keith on the guitars and I still don't know about the bass player but will look him up later on. It's great to see Ronnie with no wrinkles and a bunch of hair worn like a lot of them did in the sixties. Thanks for the great history lesson and I subscribed also to see more of my youth in the sixties~!

[@thecaveofthedead]

Yeah. That was some wild guitar for 1965 - the same year that the Beano album came out and redefined the sound of rock guitar. It sounds to me like he was using a Tonebender on the solos. A wonderful, crunchy, aggressive sound.

[@gregprice103]

One of the great rock legends

[@FeelingShred]

amazing video, well done,thanks for all that, that was awesome 🤘

[@cheallen1626]

Great piece, I learned a lot. BRAVO!

[@lethiapage4767]

I love this man so much. I am 55. b1968 so i was a kid when Rod went solo and I have been a lifelong fan of Rod. I didnt come to really study it all for years to come but i did know who Woody was, and knew he had worked with Rod in the early days. What I didn't understand at the time was how important Ron Wood had been to supporting and shaping Rod Stewart's career and also his sound. Wood's bass playing is so distinctive. Rods early music wouldnt have been the same without it. With that in mind I have thought...what a testament to the excellence of the Rolling Stones that their second guitarist is Ron Wood....a proper songwriter, composer, arranger, bassist, guitarist and vocalist. So i have been pondering lately: What do we think would have been different had Woody joined the Stones as their bass player? Personally i think the Stones catalog would have turned out quite different.

[@ChubbyChecker182]

Had no idea about most of this. Great and very informative video abiut one of Musics great characters.

[@neilfriedman]

Ronnie blew my mind with Jeff Beck, I loved him with the Faces, but since joining the Stones, I don't listen to him much. Thanks YP, allways so informative

[@postpunkhah]

For me the one truly great Stones LP with Ronnie on it is Some Girls

[@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973]

His stellar lead playing kinda got buried in the Stones . Much like Joe Walsh's did when he joined the Eagles.

[@ChrisKay54]

Actually, Ron Wood is the guitar holding the Stones together today. Keith Richards, always adequate on rhythm guitar has lost a step these days. Ronnie Wood on lead is still very precise.

[@ExtremelyRightWing]

I bought Ron Wood's biography at the dollar tree about 15 years ago. Best $1 ive spent.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Great biography.

[@victorhawkins3461]

Another sterling video! Thanks for reminding me of so much of the music I came up with.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers!

[@doccyclopz]

Another brilliant video! Ronnie Wood is the Man.

[@buzzawuzza3743]

No one can touch you when it comes to this kind of video. Rock on!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Rock on!

[@radiomindchatter7994]

I think besides his obvious talent Ronnie got on well with everybody as well which might have something to do with his longevity. Did not even know that footage existed so your research is top as usual. Wonder where that striped Telecaster is at? It's beautiful!

[@christophermacintyre5890]

Incredible to think he's been a Rolling Stone longer than Brian Jones, Mick Taylor and Bill Wyman combined.

[@westhavengwr4613]

The Birds’ version of Leaving Here is amazing. Next in Line is often featured in The Great Pottery Throwdown, especially relevant as I believe that Ron does a bit of pottery.

[@GabrielRavarini]

Fantastic work! I love it!

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Ronnie Wood can sure ROCK that rooster haircut !! 🥰 Loved the music he made with the Faces!! Many times people thought it was Bill Wyman playing the bass with the Stones, nope it twas Ronnie ‘80 “Emotional Rescue” is one example. Love the vid @ the 2010 Crossroads Festival of he, Jonny Lang & Buddy Guy playing “Miss You”. Ronnie’s also a GREAT Artist! 👨‍🎨 🖼️ Thank you for this! ❤ It’s nice learning about his earliest moments in music.

[@SBAYLISS]

Well I never knew Ron wood done so much pre faces/stones great upload thanks. Also seeing Tony Newman on drums way before his t.rex stint really enjoyed that.

[@kso808]

Fabulously interesting! Extraordinary footage! I would be very interested in seeing a YP production of the Spencer Davis Group; more specifically, the making of “Gimme Some Lovin.’” Both the UK and the U.S. releases, by co-producer Jimmy Miller. Thank you. 👍

[@dwaynewladyka577]

Good suggestion. The Spencer Davis Group are a great band. Steve Winwood is such a brilliant musician. Cheers! ✌️

[@markymarco2570]

Very good videos from the era, well done.

[@GSFlood]

Ronnie was in the right place at the right time SO Many times. Love his music

[@Mark-cw2vg]

Love the artwork interesting spirit love to hear the acoustic

[@davidellis5141]

Shame that Come Home Baby sat on the shelf for so many years. So much talent utilized with no result.

[@kenthompson8448]

Ron + Rod = Perfection

[@edwardmulholland7912]

Ronnie is an amazing musician and a cool dude.

[@zog97xy]

Deluded

[@edwardmulholland7912]

@@zog97xy Who you? Listen to some Faces records and get back in your box.

[@syater]

Excellent, excellet, excellent !

[@ivan65t]

Wow. Nice Ron wood history. Now I know about those wee early years.

[@nicevmax]

Great video, beyond the Faces and the Stones I was not familiar with Ronnie woods musical past. I had no idea that so many of the musicians mentioned here crossed each other's path on the way to their own notoriety. What a dynamic music scene England must have been in the 1960s.

[@maurice8607]

The Birds did make some wonderful singles. Say those Magic Words is my favourite. Such a shame that That's All I need is only available as a excerpt from the film. Id kill to hear it whole. Such a fine song.

[@paulgoldstein2569]

That snippet appears as a hidden track at the end of the last track of their compilation Collectors Guide To Rare British Birds, containing their complete tracks, and in very good sound. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3fSY6ukgaySbpY It is at the end of this track.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

I agree, Maurice. I love all their singles. "No Good Without You" is probably my favourite.

[@maurice8607]

@@paulgoldstein2569 I have that compilation. Must revisit it for sure.

[@maurice8607]

@@YesterdaysPapers That's a fine single for sure. I used to own many years ago, a original copy of You're on my mind. Disappeared without trace 😔

[@Ohplease62]

Ronnie is awesome! Great guitar player and also a great artist!

[@kennethnorman8079]

Another classic video from what is becoming the last word on sixties British rock. Anyone who wants further insight into the world of Ronnie Wood during this period should check out his book “How Can It Be?”. It’s basically his tour diary from his period of The Birds with contemporary commentary. Plus it comes with an unreleased Birds track on a picture disc.

[@xwsftassell]

Nice one. As usual. Thanks.

[@MaxRadin]

Truth and Beck-Ola are still great records.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Agreed, great album.

[@chrisbacos]

Your channel never disappoints. This was really fascinating. For much of his career, Woodie never got the respect he deserved until the early 2000s. I discovered the Creation in the 90s. They fit the category of "the greatest band you never heard of." Gonna have to check out that movie. Later as a Rolling Stone, he showed his talent is much more versatile than either Brian Jones or Mick Taylor. Thanks for sharing and Happy Easter

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers Chris! Happy Easter.

[@JoelPerri7777]

W o w, new sub here, great presentation and production, and narration.

[@electricwizard3000]

Excellent recap. Filled in a few gaps in the tale for me, and it's great to see all those old 60s UK band names - and Lemmy.

[@HonestJohnstories-lv7sb]

His solos on the Faces live Coast To Coast LP are delightful!

[@Paul-tk2my]

Wood is a fearless guitarist with no ego musically. I remember seeing Keith Richards being asked on stage by Chuck Berry to change key mid song- which he refused to do. I think Ronnie Wood would have embraced the challenge. These are good self-penned songs only hampered by the fact that we haven’t heard them enough

[@jpedini]

Wow thanks this is a GREAT video! I have always loved Ronnie Wood for so many reasons and this is just a great examination of his early career! Great job on the archival videos, pictures and sound! What a great guitar sound he had so long ago, too. Got a sad chuckle out of the comment..."but, unfortunately, the show was taped over and lost forever..." not once but twice! BTW one time I was in a music store in NYC and there was a poster for his album "Gimme Some Neck" and I asked the guy if he wanted to sell it and he told me he had "been offered a lot more than money for it" meaning sex I guess and it was no deal... 😀

[@The-Tired-Drummer]

Very enjoyable 👍

[@jeremyroberts39]

So glad I fell into this rabbit hole.....the man is a God 😊

[@raymondpetersen6155]

He's a wizard with a guitar!!

[@francoispedro3694]

One of the most brilliant "Yesterday's Papers". I thought I knew Ron Wood career. Just a laugh how I was wrong. 👍

[@fooman65]

Great vid, great footage, great info, well done

[@donwoodard2204]

I love The Art Woods Too !!! Wish you could do something on them, i have all their music .

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Great band.

[@sashamoghilla2919]

This is very informative video again. No filler word there. Clever job. No need to add. Thanks!

[@unstrung65]

Excellent Bio on Ron Wood !

[@nygelmiller5293]

Very educational indeed! I didn't realise Ronnie could also play bass guitar. Amazing not only that he played bass on the song FIRE, by THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN, but that you showed Arthur's unforgettable performance (in black and white), shown on an in- colour T.V.!

[@pablocaira8240]

Tengo una caja recopilatoria de The Birds, eran realmente extraordinarios! Solo les faltó suerte... Mucho mejores que los Byrds americanos, a mi entender. Otro informe increible de mi canal favorito. Gracias. Saludos desde Argentina ❤🇦🇷🎼🎸🎼💪🎸🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Saludos!

[@richierugs6544]

what a time , to be London in 63-66 and go to all the clubs and see the best bands arming themselves, getting ready for the Invasion!

[@attentiondeficitsquirrel7660]

I have one of his first class British Airways boarding passes and he signed it for me. He had a ‘59 Les Paul with him too.

[@mackb909]

Just caught up with this (been traveling). Thank you for this vid on RW's early days as a professional. The underappreciated Ronnie helped shaped London R & B in the mid-'60s before moving on to his years with Jeff Beck and the post-Marriott Faces, as well as his collaborations with Rod Stewart on the latter's early solo albums. People can argue which era of the Stones was the greatest, BJ vs. MT vs. Ronnie. PerhapsThe Stones have produced fewer original sounds as they have aged than they did in the early days of experimentation with Brian ("Paint It Black," "Ruby Tuesday," "2000 Light Years From Home") or the jaded, irresistible snarl of the best of the Mick Taylor years ("Sticky Fingers," "Exile on Main Street"), but it is undeniable that Ronnie, who stepped into the breach when Mick Taylor abruptly quit and whose Stones tenure has now lasted almost four times as long as those of Brian and MT put together, has been an integral part of holding them together and keeping them viable now for almost a half century. And this after over a decade of stalwart professional work BEFORE joining The Stones. Thank you again for another illuminating and beautiful vid, this time focusing on the immortal Ronnie Wood.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers!

[@Kirkdicanio88]

That was great!