don't give up the day job!
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I've been a huge fan of the Stones since I first started getting interested in music round about the early 70's. I'm told that my Uncle used to bunk off school in the middle of cross country running, to pop in at his sister's (my Mum's) house to play the latest Stones release when I was much smaller. Seeing the Stones live for the first time in 1982 suggested to me that they were past their best; but they managed to bang out a handful more great albums, up to the awful Dirty Work; and not a decent record since. There's no denying though that they have a back catalogue to die for!
I've loved Woody's input from Black & Blue onwards. There's no taking away from the man, he is a terrific musician. I even have his solo recordings (well - the first 4 of them anyway) and they stand up as great period pieces from a man who has without doubt seen the world and more.
As a writer, however, forget it. The book is appallingly written, filled with lists of dropped names of the rich, famous and influential (ALL close personal friends, of course); tales of his philandering are told with a grin in the hope that the women he's hurt (and their partners) along the way will see it all as a bit of fun; relentless talk of his devotion to Jo (somewhat ironic given the current gutter press coverage of his alleged latest flame): all in all, he has written himself as a quite loathsome specimen of a man. I suppose at least he's painting himself honestly - if we are to believe his drug and booze addled reminiscences.
I was deeply disappointed. I was looking forward to enjoying the book and liking the man. I did read it all the way through very easily - the style is childish at best and makes for easy reading at any rate.
I can only hope that Ronnie does not commit pen to paper again; least of all for the crime suspense novel that he moots in the last chapter (no doubt making full use of his close personal friendships with the cast and crew of CSI).
If you want to know about Ronnie Wood's life, read the book by all means. Don't expect to believe it all though; and don't expect to come out of it thinking that he isn't better off concentrating on his fabulous musicianship.
Dreadful.
Cheers,
SPARKY ;-)
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An Enjoyable Read
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Ronnie takes us all the way through his life. Interesting stories that are well told, funny & insightful. As well as his fellow members in the Stones, you get an idea on the personalities of other rock musicians which Ronnie shares with you which you will also have a chuckle at. A well told interesting & enjoyable read.
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Loved it!
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What can I say.
Totally unexpected well written account of a rock legend...............well worth a read!
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Story of a man who has been there and done it
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I was never really a Rolling Stones fan, but Ronnie has always been a character that has really interested me!
It is nice to hear about him being brought into the world by a loving and caring family, where every night at the Woods house was a party of drink and music!
He seems to devote a large section of the book towards his upbringing and getting started in the music biz right up to joining the Rolling Stones, then just flashes through the 80's and 90's in what feels like 5 minutes.
Do not expect warts-n'-all, as he does not dish any dirt on guys (probably the worse write-up in the book though goes to Jeff Beck)... but gives loads of hilarious stories like getting stoned with Jimi Hendrix, nights at George Harrisons house, crashing hotels with Rod Stewart and up to no good with Keith Richards.
My only problem is I love hearing the stories of Ronnie "going on tours he does not remember", but he seems to remember more than he lets ok.... so is somewhat of a let down :-(
Nice touch that the book is full of some of his wonderful sketches.
This guy will be rocking for many years to come :-)
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Routine and shallow
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Ronnie obviously wrote the book himself rather than employing a ghost-writer. That sounds like a good idea for someone who's quite creative: but in my opinion the excessive name-dropping and routine style hamper the book's impact, and this could have been smoothed out by getting a more accomplished writer involved.
There are plenty of anecdotes along the way so it's quite entertaining, but to me it seems a rather shallow affair,just a quick run through a set of diaries, and I didn't feel that I understood Ronnie any better at the end. A lot of the sections come across as boastful: almost every star mentioned is his "great friend", and he can't resist mentioning exactly how his paintings get enthusiastic receptions from celebrities and politicians, and entry into famous galleries. I'm sure they're very good, but it must have occurred to him that it's the signature that really counts when a painting is the work of a member of one of the world's most famous rock bands!
Buy it for the insights into the shady world of rock music and mis-management, but don't expect great literature.
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