HOW RON'S INSTANT MAGIC TURNED WOOD INTO STONE

When Ronnie Wood's dream of joining The Rolling Stones finally came true in 1976, the band still managed to rain on his parade. It was Keith Richards who broke the good news to Wood in his own inimitable way.

- 

"He said, 'I've got a great idea - let's not tell anyone you're in the band," recalled Wood with a grin. "It's like, 'Great, thanks, Keith."

Ronnie famously experienced The Stones for the first time as a teenager at 1963's Richmond Jazz and Blues Festival and knew right away, "that's the band for me".

And 13 years later he made his first official appearance on 1976's Black And Blue album - reissued as a special edition with bonus material this week - but he wasn't the only new guitarist. After Mick Taylor left, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards invited various friends to the sessions, which turned into an audition process.