The Rolling Stones' lives before fame: Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards - part two
Содержание
In today's article we continue to cover the fate of the members of the iconic band The Rolling Stones to glory! In Part 1, we already talked about Brian Jones, Mick Jagger and Bill Wyman. What about the rest of them?
Where did your career begin Ronnie Woodwhy. Charlie Watts might not have become a drummer, and also, is it true that a rebel like Keith Richardswas once a shy and quiet kid? Well: we propose to find out together...
Ronnie Wood and his musical childhood
Ronnie Wood - the same man who knew what he wanted to dedicate his life to from an early age. Wood was born into a large and close-knit family with gypsy roots. His father was a skilled harmonica player and led a big band! Not a bad musical influence on a child, wouldn't you agree? Or rather, children - Ronnie was the youngest of three brothers. Not surprisingly, the brothers were inclined to artistry and dreamed of the stage. Wood later recounted that the brothers were to him supportand in many ways inspired his musical achievements:
"We've always been one friendly team. If they started painting - I would follow suit. If they picked up guitars, I would join in!"
According to Ronnie, their home "looked like a music store.":
"We had so many different musical instruments: Chinese wooden plaques, drums, bass guitars, brass, harmoniums and even a banjo! I loved my childhood because I had a choice: I could figure out what I wanted and where I wanted to go when I grew up...."
And he realised: he had decided he wanted to be a guitarist! His career began at the very tender age of 17, and since then Wood has never parted with music (he is 76 today, by the way). Before he became part of The Rolling Stones, Ron worked in several bands, including The Birds and Small Facesand make some useful contacts in the music industry.
Wood is also talented artist! He himself said it once in the following way:
"In the eighties, when I was short of money, I thought, 'Wait a minute, I can draw.' I was living in New York and thought it would bring in grocery money, and it went up from there. It's important to promote your talent. You can always find a boring job that you'll hate, but why not try doing what you're best at to start?"
"Instead of drums, there could have been... balls!" - Charlie Watts
The iconic drummer of the Rolling Stones, who sadly left us for good in 2021, - Charlie Watts Born into an intellectual family, he was a very well-educated and versatile child. He was an excellent painter and was also interested in several sports, including football and cricket. But music quickly became his main passion.....
"I never learnt how to play as a kid. I actually got into bands by watching people play and copying them!"
His love of music was shared by David Greeneand his childhood friend who lived in the neighbourhood. They both loved jazz, and could spend hours listening to records by iconic icons of the genre, discussing them and developing ideas about their own abilities. In Charlie's own words, the drums settled in his heart at around the age of 13:
"I realised that I wanted to be a drummer. My parents shared this interest and gave me my first drum kit! After that, I never let the sticks out of my hands..."
Charlie's aptitude for music was obvious, however, on leaving school, the lad enrolled at Harrow School of Art on... graphic designer. He then worked in an advertising agency for a while Charlie Daniels StudiosBut his love for music was still burning in his heart. So, after work, he performed with other amateur musicians in local clubs. And then he turned his full attention to his drumming career, leaving painting behind!
"The shyest rebel in rock" - Keith Richards
This is hard to believe given how many crazy rumours are associated with his name, however Keith Richards has always been the quietest, most modest and shy member of The Rolling Stones! He was born into an ordinary family, but with musical tastes, as they say. For example, his grandfather travelled around the UK as part of the jazz big band Gus Dupree and his Boys. And his mother simply adored the work of Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. It was she who gave Keith his first guitar.
His father was of a different opinion and considered it a "waste of time". However, Keith had his mother's support and inner drive, and this was enough to reach Olympus.
As a kid, Keith was a very puny lad, and he was also a fan of the blues. Not surprisingly, his peers often bullied him, simply because he was weak and different from them. However, Keith was never very good at his studies - he tried to spend as much time as possible on his musical hobbies rather than on his assignments and discipline. In fact, it was this trait that introduced Keith to Mick Jagger: both are music lovers, dreamers, blues fans and rebels.
Despite the fact that he is the subject of sometimes incredible legends (some of which are pure truth - such as the fact that he shot his guitar), all his friends and acquaintances always described Keith as a very sensitive, sincere, and even shy person and a true friend, always ready to help. That's how he is, old Keith!
