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The guitarist Keith Richards always wanted in The Rolling Stones: “No doubt”
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.
In short
- Richards considered Ronnie Wood the natural Rolling Stones guitarist.
- Wood joined after Mick Taylor’s departure.
- Blues knowledge and musical chemistry proved decisive.
Explained simply
The Rolling Stones are one of rock and roll's most influential bands, known for their distinctive guitar-driven sound. In the 1970s, the band's guitarist Mick Taylor left, and Keith Richards, the band's founder and primary guitarist, needed to find someone to complement his playing.
Richards had long admired Ronnie Wood, who was performing with another band called The Faces at the time. Wood was not initially available when Richards first wanted to bring him in, so the Stones spent several months auditioning other guitarists. When Wood finally became free to join in the mid-1970s, Richards brought him into the band.
Wood's style proved ideal because he complemented Richards' guitar work rather than competing with it. The two-guitar partnership became fundamental to the Stones' sound and has remained central to their music ever since.
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