On the morning of his 80th birthday, Rod Stewart finally spoke publicly about his lifelong bond with Ronnie Wood, admitting he had held back too long in expressing his gratitude. “He’s always been like a little brother to me, and I should have said this sooner,” Stewart said. The confession came decades after the two first met in the 1960s, when Stewart was a rising singer and Wood a young guitarist with a reputation for chaotic energy. Born on January 10, 1945, in Highgate, London, Stewart grew up as the youngest of five children in a modest postwar household.
Music, he has said, was not just entertainment but a way of survival. His career gained traction in the mid-1960s when he joined the Jeff Beck Group, where his raspy vocals cut through hard-edged guitar work. But it was his meeting with Ronnie Wood that Stewart later described as fate. The two clicked instantly, sharing not only musical chemistry but an unspoken personal bond.
When they joined the Faces together, the band became known for its wild, electric live performances. Audiences did not just watch them; they lived inside the chaos with them. Behind the scenes, however, the lifestyle took a toll. Stewart recalled watching Wood slip into addiction as nights grew longer and parties blurred together.
“There were times I didn’t know if he’d make it to the next show,” Stewart admitted. “We were all wild, but Ronnie lived on a razor’s edge. ”
Stewart said he tried to pull his friend back, but acknowledged the difficulty of helping someone unwilling to accept help. As Stewart’s solo career exploded in the early 1970s with hits like “Maggie May” and “You Wear It Well,” Wood continued to struggle.
Their friendship was repeatedly tested by fame, distance, and personal demons. Wood did eventually claw his way back through rehabilitation and recovery, rebuilding himself with a determination that surprised many. The dynamic shifted when Wood joined the Rolling Stones. Fans speculated about whether Stewart felt jealous or hurt by the move.
At 80, Stewart answered that question directly. “Was I jealous? Of course. Who wouldn’t be?
But I was proud. So proud. Ronnie earned that stage. He belonged there.
”
Their paths then diverged publicly — one became a global pop-rock icon, the other a member of the most legendary band on Earth — yet the bond never broke. Friendship survived addiction, distance, fame, ego, and the relentless grind of the industry. Months or years could pass without contact, but Stewart said the connection instantly returned whenever they were in the same room. “You can’t stay mad at Ronnie,” Stewart said.
“You try, believe me, you try, but it never works. ”
Now, with both men older and carrying decades of experience, Stewart sees their relationship with greater clarity. They did not merely make music together; they grew up and survived together. Stewart said he now feels a quiet guilt over whether he could have done more for his friend, alongside deep gratitude and admiration.
“He’s family,” he said. “Always has been, always will be. ”
