Rolling Stones guitarist reveals cancer-free milestone, band's tour hopes

Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAYWed, July 8, 2026 at 10:57 PM UTC

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More than 50 years after joining the Rolling Stones, Ronnie Wood is still smiling.

The guitar yin to Keith Richards’ yang, Wood, 79, has battled two rounds of cancer – he’s all clear, he tells us with a grin – yet is still cranking out riffs with the intensity of an upstart musician with something to prove.

On July 10, the band releases its 25th studio album, “Foreign Tongues.” Produced by hotshot Andrew Watt and featuring appearances from Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood and inimitable late drummer Charlie Watts, the 14 tracks range from the bluesy stroll that is “Jealous Lover” – complete with Mick Jagger revisiting his upper range – to the galloping rocker “Rough and Twisted” to a recast of Amy Winehouse’s “You Know I’m No Good.”

Wood, the deep creases in his face expanding often as he jokes throughout a casual 20-minute chat, is also unfailingly candid.

Here’s what he had to say about a possible Stones tour, the musician he wishes he could have met and the etching he drew of Jagger as an English Lord.

Question: What is the vibe like in the studio when you’re all together as far as the energy? Mick has mentioned he’ll even do his Mick Jagger thing and prance around in there.

Ronnie Wood: It’s about 1/8th the energy of being on stage, but it’s still very inspiring and physical and funny. There’s so many interactions between us and fabulous accidents that just happen.

Any particular fabulous accidents on this one?

No, not really. Just the whole way each track took shape, it was kind of a miracle in itself. We start with not knowing anything about it apart from Mick’s idea or something. But this album was so fluid that it was largely feel that got us through it.

Mick gives you a shout out right before the solo in “Back in Your Life.” Was that spontaneous in the studio?

Yeah, it set me back, it surprised me. I thought, OK, because the solo really was inspirational even to me. I didn’t know how it was coming out and Andrew Watt was in tears by the end of it because it was a nine-minute solo edited down to about four or five. It was the last overdub I did in the studio.

How do you and Keith determine who’s going to step forward and who’s going to hang back?

It’s a natural happening. If he’s going up, I’ll lean back. He says, I’ll be the riff and you can embroider on it. And even after all these years, that still works out OK.

Paul McCartney played on a track on “Hackney Diamonds” (“Bite My Head Off”) and he’s on “Covered in You” on this album. Looking back to 50 years ago, would you have ever thought that would happen?

Paul was very blown away. He said, “I’m playing with The Rolling Stones! I always wanted to tick that box and I never thought that would happen.”

Charlie is also represented on the album on “Hit Me In the Head.” What do you remember about that recording session?

We cut some demos and Charlie and I went to join Mick in a studio in Paris and we got Charlie to play on nine songs in one day and it was handy we did that. We were just jamming and having a ball and we got one (song) on “Hackney Diamonds” and one on “Foreign Tongues.” Maybe Mick has a few more up his sleeve with Charlie on them, because it's always lovely to pay him tribute.

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Is there a possibility of touring behind this record?

Well, not this year, but we love to work. We’re dying to get back on the road. But we thought we’d treat one thing at a time and get the album out there.

Do you think you’d do something in Europe and America since there was supposed to be a European tour this year?

Yeah, there was. It never materialized. I was waiting for my call-up papers but I never got them. I just take it as when it’s in the air to tour, we’ll know about it. In the meantime, I'm going to do some gigs to keep my chops together.

When I spoke to Rod Stewart a couple of years ago, he mentioned there were some Faces songs coming. What is the status of that?

We’re working slowly on more Faces tracks. I have some solo stuff and, and my painting takes up a lot of in between time between tours.

Speaking of painting, given your art background, what do you think of the “Foreign Tongues” cover art?

(Laughs) We had a few ideas going ‘round. Mick calls him Mr. Ugly. It definitely has a visual stamp about it and I suppose that’s what he was getting at for the “Foreign Tongues” image.

Do any of your bandmates have your artwork in their homes?

Yeah, you know, I go into Mick's house and I might see one that I did of him where he's dressed as a royal person with a cricket bat and a sword – a very English Lord type thing. Keith has some stuff of mine as well. I'm into a lot of seascapes and Mick loves my seascapes.

You’ve talked about the health challenges you’ve had in the last five or six years, but how are things going?

Oh, great. I got the news a couple of months ago from my cancer doctor. He said, “Ronnie, I never want to see you again.” He said, “You’ve got a clean sheet … give me a hug.” Then he said, “You’ve followed all of your medicine and instructions correctly and we’ve got rid of it.” And he had a tear in his eye. He said, “I might come to a show, but I don’t have to see you medically.”

Is there anyone still out there that you’d want to jam with, alive or dead?

Oh, I wish Elvis was around. I played with his guitarist Scotty Moore and D.J. (Fontana, Presley’s drummer). They told me what a lovely guy he was and how I would have got on with him. It's just lovely to keep the spirit going of all these great people.

At this point in life, what do you think about when people talk about legacy?

I think what a blessing it is to be able to paint and express myself and be able to play and express myself. I just thank my lucky stars that my higher power is looking after me.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rolling Stones guitarist reveals 'fabulous accidents' behind new album

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