> At a Glance
> – Ronnie Wood says Jimi Hendrix loved his bass playing and once called for him to solo on stage
> – Wood shared a London flat with Hendrix for “a couple of weeks” during early gigs
> – Wood credits Jeff Beck with pushing him to switch to bass after leaving the Yardbirds
> – Why it matters: The Rolling Stones guitarist offers a rare personal glimpse into his pre-Stones era and the mutual respect among 1960s rock pioneers
Ronnie Wood has shared never-before-heard stories of late-night jams and cramped flats with two guitar legends-Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix-that helped shape his path to the Rolling Stones.
Beck’s Challenge: Switch to Bass
After Jeff Beck left the Yardbirds in 1967, he launched the Jeff Beck Group and needed a bassist. Following a gig at London’s 100 Club, he turned to Wood.
> “He said, ‘Would you consider playing bass?'” Wood remembers. “I love a challenge. I don’t mind it.”
That single conversation shifted Wood’s role from guitarist to bassist and opened the door to touring America.
Hendrix Jams and On-Stage Praise
Stateside, Hendrix began dropping into the band’s sets.
- Hendrix repeatedly told Beck, “Let the bass player have a solo”
- He gave Wood shout-outs at Scene Club and an outdoor park show
- His verdict: “He loved my bass playing, so that was a feather in my cap”
A Flat Full of Music
The admiration spilled off-stage. Wood and Hendrix wound up sharing a flat in Holland Park “for a couple of weeks when we were early gigging,” Wood says, calling the time “great fun.”
From Jeff Beck Group to Faces Reunion
Wood’s bass work with Beck set the stage for later super-group Faces. In April 2025 drummer Kenney Jones told The Telegraph that Faces-featuring Wood, Rod Stewart, and others-had recorded about eleven tracks at RAK Studios for their first album in 50 years, with Jools Holland guesting on one song.
Key Takeaways
- Hendrix personally championed Wood’s bass solos in live shows
- Wood’s willingness to switch instruments at Beck’s request accelerated his career
- The Jeff Beck Group period forged friendships that still influence new music today
Wood’s anecdotes spotlight a brief, electric moment when three future legends lived, jammed, and inspired one another in swinging-60s London.
