Keith Richards said Ronnie Wood was the guitarist he had long wanted in the Rolling Stones, describing his arrival as an obvious fit after Mick Taylor’s departure. The account highlights how Wood’s musical instincts and understanding of the band’s blues foundations mattered as much as technical ability.

Richards had initially wanted Wood while he was still with Faces, but Wood was not available at the time. The Stones rehearsed for about six months with numerous guitarists after Taylor left, before Wood joined in the mid-1970s; Richards said there was “no doubt” once he arrived. Wood’s ability to complement Richards rather than compete with him helped establish the band’s enduring two-guitar sound.