Ronnie Wood Siblings: Remembering Ted and Art Wood

Ronald David Wood, commonly known as Ronnie Wood or simply Woody, is an English rock musician, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist.

Born on June 1, 1947, in Hillingdon, London, he comes from a family with roots as English canal barge operators, sometimes called water gypsies.

Wood has earned worldwide fame as the longtime guitarist of the Rolling Stones, a role he has held since 1975.

Beyond his work with the Stones, he gained early recognition as a member of influential bands including the Faces and the Jeff Beck Group.

In addition to music, Wood maintains a successful parallel career as a painter and draughtsman, with his artwork exhibited around the globe.

Siblings

Ronnie grew up as the youngest of three brothers in a creative and musical household.

His elder brothers, Art Wood and Ted Wood, both pursued careers that combined graphic design with music, and all three siblings studied at Ealing College of Art.

Art Wood, the oldest, was a singer and frontman who founded the R&B band the Artwoods in the 1960s; the group featured notable musicians such as Jon Lord before he joined Deep Purple.

Art also collaborated briefly with Ronnie in the short-lived supergroup Quiet Melon alongside Rod Stewart and others in 1969.

Ted Wood was a musician who played in bands including the Temperance Seven and later worked in graphic design alongside Art.

Ted Wood passed away in 2004, and Art Wood died in 2006 after a battle with prostate cancer.

Career

Wood’s musical journey began early, inspired by his brothers and his father’s involvement in a harmonica orchestra.

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At age nine he played washboard in one of Ted’s skiffle groups, and his siblings helped purchase his first acoustic guitar.

He attended Ealing Art College, where he honed both his artistic and musical skills.

Wood’s professional career took off in the mid-1960s with the mod band the Birds, followed by a stint with the Creation.

In 1968 he joined the Jeff Beck Group, initially on bass before switching to guitar, contributing to acclaimed albums such as Truth and Beck-Ola alongside Rod Stewart.

When the Jeff Beck Group disbanded in 1970, Wood and Stewart moved to the Faces (formerly the Small Faces), where Wood’s slide guitar work and energetic stage presence helped define the band’s raw, boozy rock sound on hits like “Stay with Me.”After the Faces dissolved in 1975, Wood joined the Rolling Stones as the replacement for Mick Taylor.

He made his debut on the album Black and Blue and has remained a core member ever since, co-writing tracks and adding his distinctive guitar style to classic records including Some Girls, Tattoo You, and Steel Wheels.

Throughout his time with the Stones, Wood has continued solo projects, released several solo albums, and collaborated with a wide array of artists.

He has also explored other instruments, including bass, saxophone, and keyboards, on various recordings.

In parallel, Wood has built a reputation as a visual artist, creating paintings, drawings, and prints often featuring rock icons and musicians.

His multifaceted talents extend to radio, where he has hosted shows that earned him three Sony Radio Personality awards.

Even into his late seventies, Wood continues to tour with the Rolling Stones and release new music, demonstrating remarkable longevity in one of rock’s most demanding roles.

Accolades

Wood is a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: first in 1989 as a member of the Rolling Stones and again in 2012 as a member of the Faces.

These inductions recognize his pivotal role in shaping the sound and legacy of both bands.

Wood has also received widespread acclaim for his guitar work, slide technique, and songwriting, helping the Rolling Stones maintain their status as one of the world’s greatest rock bands over five decades.

Beyond music, his achievements as a visual artist have led to international exhibitions, while his radio presenting skills have been celebrated with a record three Sony Radio Personality awards.