Ronnie Wood and Friends, Hammersmith Apollo, review
Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood's tribute to the Chess record label at Bluesfest 2012 was polished, but lacked grit and soul, writes Paul Rees.
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3:18PM BST 02 Jul 2012
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Ronnie Wood has often seemed to have no more than a precarious grasp of normality. Yet the manner in which the Rolling Stones guitarist started this Bluesfest tribute to the Chess record label was surreal even by his own chaotic standards. He began it with an awkward pass at Muddy Waters’ Mannish Boy, for which he was inexplicably accompanied by a seven-year-old lad, introduced as “my little mate” and dwarfed by the guitar he strummed.
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The show ended with a knockabout bash at the Stones’ It’s Only Rock ’N’ Roll…. By then, both Taylor and Wyman seemed on the verge of nodding off. Wood is made of stronger stuff, and continued to skip about the stage. He, at least, seemed to thoroughly enjoy himself.
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Ronnie Wood & Friends, HMV Apollo Hammersmith - review
In the absence of a Rolling Stones 50th anniversary concert, this Blues Fest gathering featuring old Stones, and led by current guitarist Ronnie Wood, was the next best thing. He also assembled a sprawling band to blast us with harmonica, saxophone and piano during an evening celebrating blues label Chess Records (whose artists inspired the Stones).
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Concert Review: Ronnie Wood & Friends at the Hammersmith Apollo
As an exciting component to Blues Fest 2012, the iconic Rolling Stones guitarist, Ronnie Wood, sauntered onto stage with a seven-year-old boy, to roaring applause. The 65 year old, styled in a white T-shirt and white trousers with a ‘Final Fantasy’ spiky mop, put his arm around the boy and growled into the microphone.
Claire Mitchell
To see who is still to play at Blues Fest 2012, click here.
