Desert Island Discs: Ronnie Wood

DESERT ISLAND DISCS: RONNIE WOOD (320kbs-m4a/132mb/58mins)
BBC Radio 4 broadcast: 12th October 2025

Ronnie Wood is a musician and artist who has been a major player on the UK music scene for over 60 years. In 1975 Ronnie became a member of the Rolling Stones, one of the most influential and enduring bands of the rock era.

Ronnie's parents were born and worked on barges moving cargo up and down the canals between Manchester, Stratford-upon-Avon and London. Ronnie and his two older brothers were the first in the family to be born on dry land.

Ronnie's brothers, Ted and Art, were accomplished musicians and played in highly respected bands. Ronnie made his debut at nine-years-old when he played the washboard in Ted's band during a performance at their local cinema. Ronnie formed his first band, The Birds, with some friends. In 1967 he joined the Jeff Beck Group with his lifelong friend Rod Stewart. Two years later they formed the Faces with the remaining members of the Small Faces.

Ronnie joined the Rolling Stones in 1975, replacing the band's previous guitarist Mick Taylor. Ronnie's love of art developed in childhood and he studied at Ealing College of Art. His work has been shown in exhibitions around the world.

Ronnie lives in Hertfordshire with his wife Sally and their two children.

Presenter: Lauren Laverne
Producer: Paula McGinley

There are more than 2000 programmes in our archive available for you to listen to. We have cast away other musicians and songwriters including Mark Knopfler, Bruce Springsteen and Cyndi Lauper. Ronnie's fellow Stones, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts, are in our archive too along with Ronnie's friend Paul McCartney. You can find their episodes on BBC Sounds or on our Desert Island Discs website.

Big Bill Broonzy - Guitar Shuffle [Stardust]
Jimmy Reed - Shame, Shame, Shame [Life Series]
Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightning [Avid Entertainment]
Muddy Waters - You Need Love [Acrobat]
Frank Sinatra - Adelaide [Classic Soundtracks]
Anda Géza - Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467: II. Andante "Elvira Madigan" [Deutsche Grammophon (DG)]
Chuck Berry - Roll Over Beethoven [Universal Music S.A.]
Paul McCartney - Maybe I'm Amazed [Paul McCartney Catalog]