Ronnie Wood thinks technology is undermining the “essence” of making music.
The Rolling Stones star has bemoaned the ever-increasing influence of technology on modern music, observing that the industry is currently “in a strange place” and that it’s in danger of losing its “heartbeat”.
Speaking at a launch event for ‘Buddy Holly: Words Of Love’ – a new book that celebrates the life of Buddy Holly – Ronnie explained: “We were throwing s*** at the wall and some of it stuck. There’s something about the technology I feel personally, we’re losing the essence of the heartbeat.
“Maybe its because I’m older, but there’s not much new music.”
Ronnie, 77, has expressed some concerns about the current landscape of the music industry. However, he also suggested that it’s become “very democratic again”.
Ronnie explained: “I think rock music has been so convoluted because we got to be forced and twisted for a mainstream audience to turn the guitar down.
“Modern music’s been in a strange place, but it’s exciting because it’s really, I feel it’s very democratic again.”
Ronnie suggested that social media, and apps like TikTok and Instagram, have transformed the music business in recent years.
The guitarist – who joined the Rolling Stones back in 1975 – said: “For the past four years a lot of majors have been able to control what we’ve been placed in front of us, but we know apps like TikTok, Instagram and everything like that I really find that people can provide authenticity again directly.
“If you have a story to tell, you can tell it and tell it to the world. You don’t have to go through seven steps.”
Despite his concerns, Ronnie is actually feeling optimistic about the current state of rock music, noting that it’s “becoming younger again”.
The musician – who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 1989 – said: “I think that’s what’s really cool about how rock music at the minute, and modern rock and roll music, I really feel like it’s finding its bounce back, and it’s becoming hysterical again and it’s exciting. It’s becoming younger again. That’s really cool.”