Ronnie: The Autobiography by Ronnie Wood
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Book Reviews of Ronnie: The Autobiography
Book Review: nice stories...
Summary: 4 Stars
Nice story about Wood and his famous mates.
This book exeeds my expectation from a Rock and Roll sidekick!
Book Review: Weave On, Little Brother
Summary: 3 Stars
As an avid fan of Ronnie Wood's music-- with the Stones, the Faces, those early great Rod Stewart records (I still see them as Stewart/Wood records), solo, sitting in with rock's royalty-- I dove into this book with much relish (and a little mustard). Sure, I knew there'd be debauchery (the story of Woody showing up for his romantic liaison at future wife Jo's Paris hotel with Keith in tow is priceless, and if you're just browsing over a latte at Barnes & Noble, its on page 153). This guy is, I think it is safe to say, THE Good Time Charlie of rock'n'roll.
But for all the star cameos from the ranks of Britrock (e.g. all the Beatles) and American roots rock, blues and R'n'B (Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis), there just wasn't enough musical grit for me. Not word one, for example, about any of those Stewart records. I was hoping to read about the creative process by which so much of my favorite music was birthed-- inspirations in the studio, how he got such-and-such a guitar sound, what take was that "Lost Paraguayos" solo... stuff like that. You get a little of it, but I wanted a whole lot more. I mean, and I can't stress this enough, I love the guy. But the reason his autobiography merits a read is because of the music he's made (sorry Woody, but you have to die before your painting rates.) I wanted more of a musician's eye view.
That said, as a fan I found that the insight into his formative years shines some light on the life that resulted, and on the music. Notably, he grew up with older brothers who drew him into both art and music, and those relationships clearly shaped his musical persona; whether Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, or Keith Richards, his most enduring work always seems to come as Robin to someone's Batman. His home as a child was filled with music and, although he doesn't say it this way, alcohol abuse. He writes with great candor about his own substance revelry, and as decedent as you might have expected life as a Stone to have been in the late 70s, you might even be underestimating it. He writes unflinchingly about his descent into freebase addiction in the early 80s (but not a word about, for example, 1234, recorded at the same time and which had at least one ripping tune on it.)
But he devotes a surprising amount of time to the saga of the New Barbarians, which was nice because I saw and loved that ill-fated combo when they came through NYC. And also, to his tour with Bo Diddley, another high point for this reviewer.
Oh, and if the chance ever comes up, do NOT let him manage your money, and NEVER invest in a club with him.
If you are a fan, you need to read this. If you aren't, I'm recommending the latte at Barnes & Noble. But I'm also recommending Some Girls, Voodoo Lounge, all the Faces records, Gasoline Alley, Never a Dull Moment, Every Picture Tells a Story, the New Barbarians live recording which came out in '06, I've Got My Own Album to Do...
Book Review: Maybe
Summary: 3 Stars
I am not sure this is a good book; Ron Wood does not give any details about the sincere and pure music he made with Rod Stewart on the albums "Every Picture Tells a Story" nor "Gasoline Alley"; "Maggie May", "Only A Hobo", "Seems Like a Long Time" and "Lady Day" all would have been nice to hear about; but maybe Rod Stewart is saving these times for his book.
Poor Ron, too, to hear about addictions and money failing; perhaps this book speaks a little to the fast, flash-in-the pan quality which go so against his natural and true talents as a songwriter of "Mystifies Me" and "Breathe on Me" and even "Sweet Baby Mine" (this last with Bobby Womack); he dolls out detailed memories of sharing a flat for a time with Jimi Hendrix;
But the fast, flash in the pan quality speaks to the idea that maybe he did this book for the money; I think we all were looking for the real details of his life; and his sincerlity; it does shine through but not as much as many long roundabouts about drugs; and you feel sorry for all of the tuimes spent with dealers in houses in Malibu, etc. or wherever it was.
Interesting that he has never sat down with Stewart again to make great music; not written ever, with keith; something he should do perhaps to feel more mature and full of himself.
But this book is ok for anecdotes; but not enough emotional examination and depth; stories are swiftly skipped through; maybe he doesn't remember a lot; maybe Rod Stewart asked him sot to write abiout Stewart-career hits, and maybe Ron does not realise why we want to read him.
More real Ron less sheisterism and fast buckness.
Maybe.
Book Review: THE LOW SPARK OF HIGH HEELED BOYS.
Summary: 3 Stars
THE WOODMANS LONG JOURNEY WEAVES US THROUGH THE
LABARYNTHS OF ROCKS HALCION DAYS - ETCHED WITH
CANDID IF NOT GRAPHIC FLASH BACKS TO THE MUSICS
EARLIEST INFLUENCES TO WHAT HAS NOW BECOME TO ALL,
QUINTISENSUAL CLASSIC ROCK.
RONNIE IS FOR THOSE WHO LIVED THROUGH THE LATE 60'S
ONWARDS - AN ENGROSSING READ!.
THE CONSUMATE JAMSTERS ABILITY TO ADAPT HIS CHOPS
TO SO MANY STYLES OF ROCK LUMINARIES THAT FINALLY
CULMINATES TO HIS ASCENT INTO WITHOUT A DOUBT THE
WORLDS GREATEST WORKING BAND IS REMARKABLE.
WARTS - D C'S AND ALL THE 356 PAGES FOCUSES ON FAMILY,
WIVES,CHILDREN,FRIENDS,PLAYERS AND LEGENDS - NOT
ENOUGH ALAS WAS SPENT ON THE LONDON YEARS - NO
MENTION AT ALL OF "THE SPEAKEASY" THE CLUB THAT
HOSTED MORE HISTORIC ONE NIGHT IMPROMPTU JAM
SESSIONS THAN CAN EVER BE IMAGINED,WOODY BEING
IN NEARLY EVERY ONE..
I WOULD OF ALSO LIKED MORE ON THE IMPORTANCE
OF THE STYLE AND FEEL OF LONDON DURING THOSE DAYS.
MORE ON GRANNYS - SWEENYS - COSTAS - RUSKINS AND
OF COURSE THE CHELSEA COBBLER ..
STRANGELY MISSING - HARDLY A WORD ON GLIMMER TWIN
NUMBER TWO ? BUT THERE AGAIN"LOOSE LIPS MIGHT SINK SHIPS"
WE WILL JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR HIS MAJESTY TO PUT
PEN TO PAPER,BUT DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH.
'YOU DON'T WANT ME TROUSERS TO FALL DOWN NOW DO YA"
RONNIE ON THE P C ROCK BIO GRADE TWANGS IN AT A SOLID 7.
WEAVE IT OR LEAVE IT - RONNIE IS DEFINITELY A WEAVER WORTH
WEADING
Book Review: Good...Not Great.....
Summary: 3 Stars
Well
This book makes Ronnie Wood look like a boozing,half wit who's gotten everything in his life by luck.It takes only a casual look at Ron Wood's life.Almost every chapter is celebrity name dropping and drug use.Ron Wood has a MUCH better book in him than this.It never goes very deeply into his feelings and thoughts.An example:while discussing Stones drummer Charlie Watts cancer scare,Wood says "A few years ago,Charlie went into hospital.No fussing,he just beat it".That's as deep as this book gets.No"It could have been the end of the Stones" or "I can't tell you how hard it was seeing someone who is like a brother suffering".A few sentences,and that's it.It's a fun book no doubt.But Ronnie's 1987 book "The Works" was far more sensetive and heartwarming.It showed Wood to be a kind,funny and talented good time boy who is a credit to any relationship he's in.
Unfortunatley for you "hard core" Stones fans,there isn't alot of depth to this.The whole period of 1994's "Voodoo Lounge" to 1998's "Bridges to Babylon" is only 5 -1/2 pages long.I would have liked to know what was going on when Bill Wyman left,what's it like writing with Mick and Keith and/or what's it like to perform in front of 100,000 people?
Just booze and star "F" ing in this book,with small moments of Wood growing up and a dash of family life.
The casual fan will rejoice.....die hards -not so much
www.markfloresmusic.com