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Ronnie: The Autobiography
by
Ron Wood
,
Jeffrey Robinson
(Goodreads Author)
For the first time, a member of the world’s most famous rock ‘n’ roll band tells his—and their—story. Raw, unsanitized, nasty and fascinating. An incredible journey.
The first of his family to be born on dry land, Ronnie Wood came from a family of water gypsies and was raised in a council flat near Heathrow Airport. Growing up only wanting to paint and play music, Wood was ...more
The first of his family to be born on dry land, Ronnie Wood came from a family of water gypsies and was raised in a council flat near Heathrow Airport. Growing up only wanting to paint and play music, Wood was ...more
Hardcover
,
358 pages
Published
October 2nd 2007
by St. Martin's Press
(first published June 30th 2007)
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,139)
Aug 31, 2011
Pete daPixie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Pete by:
50p off a car boot sale
Ronnie Wood's autobiography...well, almost auto, with the help of two assistants named as Jack Macdonald and Jeffrey Robinson. 'Ronnie' was published in 2007, so it's final chapter 'Where is this boy now?' requires some update, but then rolling stones gather no moss.
If Woody has dictated most of this memoir to be typed up by ghost writers, well so what? Born into a family of water gypsies in 1947, this autobiog contains a flow of sixty years, with almost fifty years of rock and roll mayhem. From ...more
If Woody has dictated most of this memoir to be typed up by ghost writers, well so what? Born into a family of water gypsies in 1947, this autobiog contains a flow of sixty years, with almost fifty years of rock and roll mayhem. From ...more
I picked this up because I enjoy the Faces, Wood's early work with Rod Stewart, and the Stones.
I found this book terribly depressing.
In the beginning, the book is rather interesting and full of tales of mischievous boys who play music, pull pranks, and live a little wild. Some of the stories are quick little portraits of famous musicians, and the insight into how some of the music of the time period was made is cool. There's a whole bunch of blanks, however. There's some stories of the Faces' ...more
I found this book terribly depressing.
In the beginning, the book is rather interesting and full of tales of mischievous boys who play music, pull pranks, and live a little wild. Some of the stories are quick little portraits of famous musicians, and the insight into how some of the music of the time period was made is cool. There's a whole bunch of blanks, however. There's some stories of the Faces' ...more
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Oh dear. Ronnie may be great guitar player and very probably a good guy to have a drink with, but he most certainly isn't much of a writer. My suspicion is that he was "helped" quite considerably on this project. Its relentlessly cheery tone and mid-atlantic accent do grate after a while and the whole thing seems cartoonish in the extreme. I'm about halfway through and I couldn't really tell you much about what Ronnie thinks, what the people he knows are like or even what it's like being in the
...more
This is an interesting book due to the strange stories that will be fresh to all Stones fans, no matter how many books you've read or documentaries you've read. However, Ronnie seems to skip over many years without any mention of certain events that a student of music would like to know, such as the stories behind the writing and recording of certain Faces and/or Stones albums. A good, quick read though if you are into rock'n'roll.
What’s it like to spend your life in a drug-induced haze on the road with the Rolling Stones? Ronnie Wood, who was a guitarist with the Jeff Beck Group and the Faces before he joined the Stones, has lived to tell his story. Drugs were passed from one rock star to another, as well as the girlfriends and wives. It’s amazing that despite the vast sums of money earned, Wood was often broke. If you’re looking for insight into the other members of the Stones, it’s not in this book, oddly enough. Mick
...more
Sep 18, 2013
False Millennium
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
biography-memoirs
,
performing-arts-film
You may find yourself disgusted (or envious) when you finish this book. The sheer levels of self-indulgence to addictions, the sheer waste of earned income. He doesn't just lose "a million." He loses "70 million" and more than once through laziness, ineptitude and "can't be bothered with "money." "I" am an artiste. Pah. He also glosses over (if that's possible the true level of drunkeness, drug addled behaviors, hotel destructions..hey...it's a lifestyle.) I'm sick of this. You reach a certain l
...more
Ronnie Wood sai kunnian olla ensimmäinen the Rolling Stonesin jäsen, joka julkaisee oman elämäkertansa (Johnny Kniga, 2009). Lopputulos olisi voinut olla hyvinkin kiinnostava ja kirjan alkupuolella taideharrastuksestaan tunnettu kitaristi muisteleekin aika kiinnostavasti lapsuuttaan sekä the Birdsissa, Jeff Beck Groupissa ja the Facesissa vietettyjä vuosia, jotka ovat rockhistoriaa kirjoitettaessa jääneet vähemmälle huomiolle kuin Stonesin kanssa vietetty ajanjakso.
Niin, entäs sitten The Rolling ...more
Niin, entäs sitten The Rolling ...more
Man, Ron Wood was at the right place at the right time -- ALL THE TIME. It is mindblowing how perfect his timing has been over the decades; just like how perfect his playing can be. (See, e.g., him and Keith on "HAND OF FATE" off of Black and Blue). Sure there are entire years and possibly almost decades, lost in the haze of freebase and locked bathroom doors, but . . . he's still alive, innit he? Yep. And he's got a revolving door of unscrupulous managers in the mix, several mansions, fortunes
...more
This book is an easy read and insightful into the Rolling Stones’ lifestyle. The secret to Ronnie’s achievements was being likeable, willing to travel, and hard working. His family fully supported his music, and due to their poverty, Ronnie did not have a lot of other options. You can read all about his boozing and what not, but that oddly did not have a negative affect on his success. Some people may think rock stars are dumb and shallow, but there are hundreds of complicated songs to learn and
...more
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Jan 18, 2008
Diane D.
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Stones fans, Ronnie Wood fans, Fans of 60's Rock
Recommended to Diane D. by:
from my partner for Christmas - Thanks, Endre :)
Shelves:
nonfiction
Personally, I would give this book a 5 because I am loving it, but it is not "amazing" so I can't give it a "good reads" definition of a 5.
I am a huge Stones fan, and also a fan of rock from that period and the people that inspired them. So I am in my glory while reading this book. Rod Stewart, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, how Ronnie met his wife, Jo, life on the road , the tours, the tales, to me it's awesome reading. What I love the most, I think, is that it is written very simply. It is as thou ...more
I am a huge Stones fan, and also a fan of rock from that period and the people that inspired them. So I am in my glory while reading this book. Rod Stewart, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, how Ronnie met his wife, Jo, life on the road , the tours, the tales, to me it's awesome reading. What I love the most, I think, is that it is written very simply. It is as thou ...more
even though he's a stoned stone for the bulk of the book, ron wood takes a not-entirely cursory trip through his interesting life. he's actually quite conversational, and you actually get the sense that he's a guy you could hang with, that is, if you're one of the super-rich celebs he knows. he's self-effacing (throughout the book, people are mistaking him for close mate keith richards)and funny. don't expect to get much of a sense about mick here, though -- while you get glimmers of the other g
...more
So disappointed! Two stars is being generous. I love Ronnie and was really looking forward to reading about his life in music and art. The content was there, somewhere, underneath all the self-indulgent and incoherent writing. There was no organization within chapters; chronology is all over the place; nicknames are used to refer to people without being explained, and in some cases it takes a few pages to figure out who he's talking about. I get that he has hung out with some of the most famous
...more
It's really something to think about the easy-going music associated with Ron Wood and then consider the overall emptiness of his life. The bright spot of the book is Jo Wood, whom he left not long after the book was published. Ron's freewheeling gypsy adventures are tinged with sadness.
I got this book for free at a book club I'm part of, have been a long time Stones fan, but knew almost nothing about Ronnie Wood, so I thought I would give this a try. It was mildly interesting, learned a bit about rock history, but mostly fluff and cliche about the Rock and Roll lifestyle. Sounds like Ronnie has become conservative, wealthy and comfortable in old age. I could have passed on this one.
References to legends and stars really immerse you in a period when rock and roll was starting to take shape and change the landscape; however, after a while the name dropping appears self serving and doesn't help to further illustrate the development of the genre or his journey through it. I'm all for a good party, but the detailed stories of elicit behavior become tedious and at times pitiful. This is further reinforced by his recent newsworthy activities and break from the "love of his life."
...more
Great book! Informative and funny and full of stories about his life with all the bands he's been in (mostly The Stones, obviously), with his family, and as a musician and artist. Very light in tone thru most of it, so an easy and fun read.
Another book that helps me relive some of the fantastic music of my youth, in particular The Faces. It's a well written autobiography and is very easy to read. If you're a Ronnie Wood fan you've probably read it. But if you just like biographies give it a shot, there are some wonderful anecdotes and great pictures too
Strangely and sadly Ronnie was featured in the UK tabloid press this weekend, some kind of sex scandal with an Escort Girl. So kind of appropriate, but then I don't really have any ...more
Strangely and sadly Ronnie was featured in the UK tabloid press this weekend, some kind of sex scandal with an Escort Girl. So kind of appropriate, but then I don't really have any ...more
Read this just after publication. Can't recall exactly what I thought, but The Stones (& The Faces) and particularly Ronnie Wood, are all heroes of mine. So, knowing I though of nothing bad, I must say that I really enjoyed this one.
Wanted to like this because I like Ron Wood (Jeff Beck Group, Faces, Rolling Stones), but it just wasn't written well enough to keep my interest.
A rock and roll bio can either concentrate on the technical aspects of being a musician, or a rememberance of shenanegans on and off the stage. The technical parts weren't that detailed, and the personal info was kinda hazy and generalized. It read like Wood's ghostwriters were putting together the text from half-forgotten notes.
The best parts were Wo ...more
A rock and roll bio can either concentrate on the technical aspects of being a musician, or a rememberance of shenanegans on and off the stage. The technical parts weren't that detailed, and the personal info was kinda hazy and generalized. It read like Wood's ghostwriters were putting together the text from half-forgotten notes.
The best parts were Wo ...more
A great read - he's had a brilliant life, and this is well written - a good companion to Keith's book.
Nää musaelämänkerrat jakautuu karkeasti kahteen osaan. Tällaisiin taiteilijan itsensä kirjoittamiin, elämänmakuisiin ja pieniin tarinoihin kestittyviin sekä "asiantuntijoiden" kirjoittamiin numeerisiin ja hyvin tarkasti levyt ja kiertueet läpikäyviin tietopläjäyksiin. Väkisinkin käy niin, että ensinmainutut artistien itsetekemät ovat kiinnostavampia ja kivempiä lukea. Paitsi jos on tilastokahjo (tunnustan).
Ronnien elämänkerta on oikein mainio kattaen myös arvon taiteilijan maalausharrastuksen (t ...more
Ronnien elämänkerta on oikein mainio kattaen myös arvon taiteilijan maalausharrastuksen (t ...more
He's funny, personable, engaging and a hell of a lot better storyteller than Keith Richards is.
Rock musician (and Rolling Stone) Ronnie Wood's autobigraphy was very enjoyable.
He comes across as a simply wonderful, warm hearted, people- and fun-loving man.
I've been a Ronnie Wood fan since his days with Rod Stewart (solo career) and with Rod in The Faces, with his CD with Bo Diddley, and of course The Stones.
Lots of details and pictures of his younger life growing up, his musical progression, and his lesser known but incredible talent and notoriety in the art world. Many of his sketches are ...more
He comes across as a simply wonderful, warm hearted, people- and fun-loving man.
I've been a Ronnie Wood fan since his days with Rod Stewart (solo career) and with Rod in The Faces, with his CD with Bo Diddley, and of course The Stones.
Lots of details and pictures of his younger life growing up, his musical progression, and his lesser known but incredible talent and notoriety in the art world. Many of his sketches are ...more
Went through this book really fast. Very nice glimpse into the life of a true living Legend . Ronnie has been there and done that ! If you think he is just the guy who joined the Rolling Stones in the late 70's you have a lot to learn ................go get this book !
Ok honestly ,I have read many of these rocker bios and this is far from the best one although it is a must read for any fan of Ronnie Wood . You will get an honest look into stardom ,struggle,addictions ,bad relationships and al ...more
Ok honestly ,I have read many of these rocker bios and this is far from the best one although it is a must read for any fan of Ronnie Wood . You will get an honest look into stardom ,struggle,addictions ,bad relationships and al ...more
Well, Ronnie's definitely a better guitar player than writer, and I had already heard many of the stories that involved his Stones years, but it was still a fun read. More of a journal of memories, rather than a chronological autobiography. It paints a good picture of London during the early years of rock and roll and how interrelated all those early bands were. He is also pretty candid about his alcohol abuse and recovery, alhtough I think that he fell off the wagon since he finished the book.
Warren Truitt is right...so far this book is poorly written. There's not enough dirt on the legendary Birds, and he breezes through the Jeff Beck Group and has hardly anything to say about Beck at all.
Wood also indulges in creaky old BS rock star mythology even after the punk explosion supposedly did away with such things, and carries an annoying air of entitlement that would make Whitney Houston jealous. And if name dropping gives you a rash break out the calamine lotion.
Wood also indulges in creaky old BS rock star mythology even after the punk explosion supposedly did away with such things, and carries an annoying air of entitlement that would make Whitney Houston jealous. And if name dropping gives you a rash break out the calamine lotion.
Ronnie: The Autobiography by Ronnie Wood, guitarist and member of The Rolling Stones band for over 30 years. (This book goes to my son, the music lover).
Publisher's description: " A fascinating portrait not just of the Stones but of the greatest rockers of the 1960s and beyond - from Eric Clapton to Rod Stewart, Jimmy Page to Keith Moon, Jimi Hendrix to Pete Townshend - Ronnie is a rich revelatory book." St. Martin's Press, 2007.
Publisher's description: " A fascinating portrait not just of the Stones but of the greatest rockers of the 1960s and beyond - from Eric Clapton to Rod Stewart, Jimmy Page to Keith Moon, Jimi Hendrix to Pete Townshend - Ronnie is a rich revelatory book." St. Martin's Press, 2007.
I enjoyed getting RW's perspective on being a Stone. He definitely had some memory issues though, i.e. the riot and makeup show happened in Milwaukee, not Chicago. A fair number of typos, too, like on the last page. Worth reading.
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Ronald David "Ronnie" Wood is an English rock guitarist and bassist best known as a member of The Rolling Stones, Faces, and The Jeff Beck Group.
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