Ronnie Wood has recalled how Jeff Beck got him to pick up the bass — and Jimi Hendrix became an instant fan.
The 78-year-old rocker has opened up about the unexpected path that led him to become a bass player long before he joined The Rolling Stones — and how none other than late guitar hero Jimi Hendrix became one of his earliest champions in the ’60s.
In a video shared on Instagram, the guitarist reflected on his formative years with Jeff Beck, revealing that the late music legend played a pivotal role in steering him toward the instrument. Wood recalled the moment the pair first discussed working together after Beck departed The Yardbirds, eventually forming the Jeff Beck Group in 1967 with a rotating cast of musicians.
After a strong show at London’s famed 100 Club, Beck approached Wood with a suggestion that would change the course of his career.
He explained: “Jeff said, ‘Ronnie, if you don’t mind, would you consider playing bass?’ And I said, ‘I love a challenge. I don’t mind it.’ So that’s when I went on to the bass.”
That decision soon led to some unforgettable encounters. When the band travelled to America, Hendrix frequently turned up at their gigs — and made a point of championing Wood’s playing.
He recalled: “Jimi Hendrix used to come and jam with us.
“He used to say to Jeff, ‘Hey, Jeff, let the bass player have a solo.’ … He loved my bass playing, and so that was a feather in my cap.”
Wood – who joined the Stones in 1975 – went on to share that he even lived with Hendrix in London for a short period during those early days.
He added: “I ended up sharing a flat with him in Holland Park for a couple of weeks when we were early gigging. It was great fun.”
Wood also became a member of the Faces with Sir Rod Stewart, another alumnus of the Jeff Beck Group, in 1969.