Ron Wood
b. 1 June 1947, Hillingdon, Middlesex, England. This younger brother of the Artwoods’ leader formed the Birds with other students at his Middlesex art school. Although they had a minor hit with Leaving Here in 1965, they are better remembered for the publicity-earning writ they served on the Byrds for breach of copyright. Next, Wood joined the latter-day Creation before entering Jeff Beck's employ as second guitarist and then bass player. Ructions with Beck led to Wood's dismissal in 1969. After a brief reinstatement, he and Beck's vocalist, Rod Stewart, amalgamated with three former Small Faces. As the Faces, they became a major international act in the early '70s. To a lesser degree than Stewart, Wood inaugurated a parallel solo career—beginning with 1974's I'VE GOT MY OWN ALBUM TO DO. Although mainly self-composed, a highlight was a revival of James Ray's If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody, a Merseybeat standard recalled by George Harrisonwho, with Wood, wrote Far East Man for the album, and was among the famous friends mentioned on its sleeve. The most prominent of these was Keith Richards who likewise served Wood on 1975's NOW LOOK, and invited him to be a temporary member of the The Rolling Stones while the group searched for a replacement for guitarist Mick Taylor. However, after the Faces,’ final tour, Wood enlisted in December 1975 as a full-time member while continuing to release solo records such as 1979's GIMME SOME NECK and its Seven Days single. This had been penned by Bob Dylan who the new Stone would assist on a 1981 album. Also helping Dylan then was Ringo Starr whose subsequent STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES would include a Wood-Starr opus, Dead Giveaway. Incurably addicted to jam sessions, Wood was a familiar sight in the ‘impromptu’ all-star performances that concluded prestigious music industry award ceremonies. He was also noticed performing during televised spectaculars, starring old idols like Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis. Included among Wood's other extra-mural activities was an exhibition of his portrait paintings.