Ronnie Wood remembers living with “sweet man” Jimi Hendrix: “He’d just sit back and play right-handed or left-handed – that blew my mind”
Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood has spoken about his relationship with guitar icon Jimi Hendrix, remembering the time the pair lived together in the late ‘60s.
In an extract from his new book Fearless: The Anthology – shared exclusively with Guitar.com – Wood, who is also a keen painter, reflects on his friendship with Hendrix, sharing a painting of the two at New York’s Scene Club in 1968.
“During the time I was with the Jeff Beck Group,” he writes. “Jimi liked how I played bass and he’d say to Jeff, ‘Let the bass player play,’ so Jeff would have to let me take long solos. That’s how I got to know Jimi more – we’ve have jamming sessions. He used to just turn up and come and play.”
READ MORE: Ronnie Wood celebrates 50 years as a Rolling Stone with new paintings of bandmates Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts
In the late 1960s, both Ronnie Wood and Jimi Hendrix shared a house in Holland Park, which belonged to soul singer Pat “P.P” Arnold. During this time, Wood remembers being “mind-blown” by Jimi’s playing chops – particularly his ambidexterity.
“He was quite quiet as a flatmate,” Wood reflects. “He’d just sit back and play right-handed or left-handed guitar – that ambidextrousness blew my mind. If I try to play left-handed it’s like giving a child a guitar.
Credit: Genesis Publications
“Sometimes we’d get out the acoustics and swap blues licks for him to warm up before a show. He always said, ‘I don’t like my voice.’ And I’d say, ‘Don’t worry, your guitar playing takes care of that.’ He was a very sweet man.”
Described as Ronnie Wood’s “musicography”, Fearless: The Anthology charts – in his own words – some of the most defining moments from his illustrious career, from performing in London clubs with The Birds in the ‘60s to his time as bassist with the Jeff Beck Group, all the way to his five decades with the Rolling Stones.
This edition also opens up Ronnie Wood’s archive for the first time, showcasing via special photography everything including legendary guitars and other rare instruments, custom-made straps, amps, designer stage wear, concert setlists and so much more.
Some of Wood’s most important stage and studio guitars are featured including his Duesenberg Starplayer TV, Versoul Raya, Gibson Firebird and even his collection of lap and pedal steels.
“Every detail – the colours, patina, wear and tear and unique modifications – has been captured to tell the story of Ronnie’s extraordinary journey through music,” says a press release shared with Guitar.com.
Fearless: The Anthology is available now for pre-order. While copies of the Deluxe Edition have already sold out, the Collector’s Edition is still up for grabs, priced at £325, and shipping in May 2026.
Learn more at RonnieWoodAnthology.com.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
