If you want a slick, professional show then don't even think of going to see Ronnie Wood. But if sloppy as hell, fucked up to perfection rock'n roll is your ideal then Ronnie's your man! As soon as the first of three shows on this all too brief tour started everything went wrong. The set began with the crashing chords of Woody's interpretation of The Byrds' So You Wanna Be A Rock'n Roll Star. He got the spoken intro bit fine-the bit he'd basically written by himself-then it came time to sing the verse… Despite having a music stand festooned with lyrics in front of his microphone he either couldn't read or couldn't see the necessary words. Being Ronnie, what does he do? He threw his arms up in the air - thought, "Fuck it!" and got on with the show - leaving the song to be sung by daughter Leah and Vinnie on backing vocals.

More than anything these shows proved that Ronnie Wood doesn't need to rely on his name friends-he can make it on his own. Backed by a band featuring son, Jesse James Wood-who is turning into a fine guitar player-and Jesse's friends: Mark Wells on bass, Martin Wright on drums and keyboard player Tramper, Ronnie could have so easily carried the whole show on his own. But being Ronnie and being used to being a sideman, albeit one of the best in the world, he seemingly still thinks he can't make it alone. His albums are stuffed with some of the coolest musicians on the planet-and let's face it, Ronnie knows just about every player around! In fact, all Woody really needs is a band and a guitar or two and he's made.

The set continued with Mystifies Me before the band launched into their new version of Leaving Here, originally recorded by Ronnie's 'mod' band, The Birds. Three songs in the same key in a row but so what? Next up was the Ronnie / Leah duet from the new album, This Little Heart. Followed by Breathe On Me-originally released as the b-side of I Can Feel The Fire before ending up on Now Look. Chuch Magee placed behind Ronnie's Mesa Boogie had been changing the guitars regularly but now he handed over an acoustic-Alan Rogan over on stage left gave another to Jesse and a two-song acoustic set began. First up was another new number, What Do You Think, followed by the Faces' classic Ooh La La. The first on the special guests, Irish fiddler Frankie Gavin came on stage. Then Chuch placed a lap-slide acoustic on it's stand and the band played their way through the 'slight' instrumental, Wayside-it sounded magical!

A mess of electric guitar started from a previously unused amp and the second guest lurched onstage. The Irish crowd went totally insane. The band, who were pretty damn loud, were almost drowned out. I, for one, hadn't realised that Slash still meant anything much to anyone. Those of us at the front were more or less crushed against the barrier for the rest of the gig as a bunch of crazed Guns'n Roses fans went insane for the rest of the gig… Ronnie had announced in the Hot Press that Slash would be joining him and a legion of the LA guitarist's fans had bought up tickets at the last moment. For a few long seconds it seemed that Ronnie would be upstaged at his own gig but as the band sprung into driving versions of Testify and Am I Groovin' You it became clear that Woody could hold his own against anyone. Slash does tend to overplay at times but he's still a good guitarist. As Chuch did the de rigueur guitar changes for Ronnie, Slash stuck with his one Les Paul for the whole show.

The Dublin show was a totally different fish to the first London gig-at Shepherds Bush Ronnie was trying to be more professional-as professional as Ronnie Wood can ever be. Mind you the London date was being filmed for possible DVD release. Signs in the foyer warned that anyone in possession of photographic or recording equipment would be ejected-this didn't stop the front row exploding in flashbulbs for the first three numbers-or a number of good quality dubs of the gig!

In Dublin anything went… and seeing the two shows was a definite must. Unfortunately due to having to play in New York I missed the third gig at the incredibly over-priced CC Club where the group played a cut down, but apparently fantastic set where the audience were close enough to reach out and touch the band if they'd been so inspired. Shades of the legendary Stones' gigs at the El Mocambo in Toronto!

The next song in Dublin was from the Faces' first album, a perennial RW solo favourite, Flying which glazed itself luxuriously through the venue. Then a ramshackle as hell version of the second number Woody contributed to the Stones, Hey Negrita. Once again the singer hadn't a clue what the words were and thought, "What the hell!" It worked… to a degree. Three nights later at Shepherds Bush they played a shortened Negrita as the set opener before segueing into Rock'n Roll Star. All three shows were marked by a much-changing setlist. Something the Stones would never do. Then it was Take A Look At The Guy-basically a two-chord bash, but a great one. Little Red Rooster with Jesse James playing just fine on the old Howlin' Wolf tune.

The setlist listed the next number as Slash #2-an instrumental version of Paradise City which sent the Irish crowd over the edge once more. Ronnie and Slash herded together around the mike to sing the Take me down… lines. Then a cool, bluesy, or a complete mess-up-depending on your perspective-rendition of Miss You. Once again Woody didn't even seem to have even a rough idea of the lyrics. Even when Chuch sprinted to the music stand to locate the missing text it didn't make much difference. Once again Ronnie cast fate to the winds and let the backing vocals kinda carry the song while he and Slash traded licks.

Although Woody had also promised contributions from Jay Kay from Jamiroquai and Andrea from The Corrs at the Dublin show neither of them materialised. Jay Kay didn't make it to any of the shows. Andrea Corr-looking like a total star-joined in for a handful of numbers at Shepherds Bush and the CC Club. Instead we got songs for two of Ronnie's dead mates (three if you count Ronnie Lane-which Woody did!)-George Harrison and John Lennon. A really elegant Far East Man-the song that Ronnie and Ian McLagan wrote with Harrison preceded Jealous Guy, the Lennon song Woody first played with the Faces many years back. Far East Man probably provided the most magic moment of a magical evening.

Two more numbers to go, Willie Weeks' Crotch Music from I've Got My Own Album To Do and then Ronnie's first ever, and possibly greatest Stones' song, It's Only Rock'n Roll. Yet again he really didn't know more than a handful of the words, but yet again it really didn't matter. The Shepherds Bush interpretation, with the luscious Miss Corr on joint vocals went on and on. In Dublin it was a bit more curtailed but not much. The band trooped off stage to thunderous applause and screaming. The Dublin show just had to be one of the best rock'n roll shows I've ever seen. The London show wasn't far behind.

Ronnie came back on-strapped on his Zematis-and played a variation on Plynth, interspersed with snippets of Gasoline Alley and Prodigal Son-Slash joined in a few minutes down the road. Last number was a gloriously fucked-up Stay With Me. Despite writing the song with Rod Stewart over thirty years previously Ronnie still hadn't a clue as to the words! Once again it just didn't matter. Leah and Vinnie sang the basic verses and Ronnie joined in the ragged chorus. It was all over too soon. The band had been on stage for about 140 minutes. The Shepherds Bush show was shorter due to Glen Matlock's support band, and the legendary curfew.

The CC Club show was even briefer due to Ronnie and Slash having to leave to film Little Queenie for Jools Holland's Hootenanny the same evening. And that at £265 a ticket! Mind you the gig was mainly a benefit for Ronnie's stepson, Jamie Green's, Outer Sanctum company. To see Woody & Friends at the Kilburn State in 1974 cost £2.00! It's still only rock'n roll but these days things can get more expensive! Having said which, no one really felt short changed by the curtailed set, which I am assured, was flawless. I was backstage at Irving Plaza when Woody and Slash dashed off to the BBC TV Centre at White City. Having a good time!

Ronnie, interviewed on the Jonathan Ross Show the following evening, told how he'd spoken to Keith after the gig and Keith had decreed, "You're mine from January 1st!"

Nikki Sudden-New York and Berlin-December 2001.

First published in It's Only Rock'n Roll-March 2002-Vettre, Norway.