|
|
| Mel Belli |
Irish Independent
March 25, 2007
Big party plans but wife warns dry Ronnie to stay out of boozy Dublin
DANIEL McCONNELL
ROLLING Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood said his wife has banned him from going into Dublin from their Kildare home, for fear he "wouldn't come back for three days".
Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Independent, the 59-year-old recovering alcoholic said his wife and handlers fear the temptations are too much for him.
The former Faces and Jeff Beck Group guitarist was speaking on the day it was announced that the Rolling Stones are to headline a Slane Castle concert on Saturday, August 18, the 25th anniversary of when the band last played there.
He said: "Well, it's a good test for me to come back to Ireland and not drink. I'll probably do it through the smoking ban too, it'll be weird to go in to a pub and not have a drink and not have a cigarette, so it's strange.
"If I head into Dublin, it's a bit dangerous for me staying on the old wagon. I can do it, I've done it before, but I'm going through a learning curve of abstaining. I love coming into Dublin, but a lot of the time I'm not allowed to because of all the trouble I have got into in the past."
Who doesn't allow you? we asked.
"You know, the wife and the various people who look after me, they think 'the last time you went to Dublin it took you three days to come home.' But I do have a great time there."
The guitar legend said his affinity to Ireland is deep rooted. And on the weekend of the gig he wants Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and the rest of the Stones crew to go back to his house in Clane, Co Kildare, for a mega post-gig bash.
"The night of the gig I'll stay in my house, and yeah probably have a party that night. I can still party, even if I'm not hitting the bottle," he said.
On his alcoholism, the troubled London native described the constant struggle to keep his life on track. He said: "My head is in a great place and I know I'm playing and painting better, so why mess with it. It's a hard on-going thing but it's worth it."
Wood and his wife Jo, who is a successful cosmetics businesswoman, have owned their extensive house in Kildare for the last 16 years. They bought it from an old friend.
"Well a mate of mine was splitting up from his wife. They remained good friends but they realised it was time to sell. He invited me over to stay and I had intended on renting it for a while but I decided to buy. It's a great place. I love it."
Wood has installed a recording studio, artist's studio and a bar in the back garden. And many rock legends have used his studio, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Van Morrison, U2's The Edge, as well as the Rolling Stones themselves. About his outside bar, he said: "The garden and the bar have seen many great nights, and there are plenty of stories to be told."
He was "very disappointed" at the legal row between MCD and Aiken Promoters which saw their intended Phoenix Park gig cancelled.
"Yeah, we're going to Slane I think because of all the promoters arguing. We just wanted to get over and play in Ireland, whatever it took. And all the red tape that was getting in the way I thought 'ah no', we're going have to forsake Ireland again, this can't go on, you know."
He would love to play Croke Park in the near future.
"I haven't been there yet but I saw it on the telly and it looks a fantastic place and I would love to play there," he said.
|
|
|
| tumbled |
Thank god someone cares ! Go Ronnie!!!
stay away from the slippery places! its alright! we are behind ya and dont' want u to get sick again....
I don't want to lose any more friends from drinking - the last one was 49 y.o. do what you must Ronald!!!!! I for one am behind u all the way..
as if he reads this.. |
|
|
| GotToRollMe |
quote:
tumbled wrote:
Thank god someone cares ! Go Ronnie!!!
Indeed. Ronnie was on fire at the shows I saw last year. The man is amazing. God bless ya, Ronnie.
|
|
|
| Zack |
>it'll be weird to go in to a pub and not have a drink and not have a cigarette<
Then don't go into the pub, Ronnie. |
|
|
| Gazza |
quote:
Zack wrote:
>it'll be weird to go in to a pub and not have a drink and not have a cigarette<
Then don't go into the pub, Ronnie.
Its obviously been a few years since he was in a pub in Dublin as smoking has been banned in them for about four or five years.
Ronnie's "local" when in Dublin tended to be the Auld Dubliner in Temple Bar. Its not exactly the easiest part of Dublin to hang out in if you're battling a drink problem |
|
|
| Joey |
quote:
Gazza wrote:
Its obviously been a few years since he was in a pub in Dublin as smoking has been banned in them for about four or five years.
Ronnie's "local" when in Dublin tended to be the Auld Dubliner in Temple Bar. Its not exactly the easiest part of Dublin to hang out in if you're battling a drink problem
They recently banned smoking inside the Brazen Head
www.BrazenHeadPub.com
|
|
|
| Saint Sway |
the tour seems to be coming together right on schedule!!
the tour dates have been announced, pre-sales are a go, and any day now we will get the obligatory "Woody Back In Rehab" news. |
|
|
| Martha |
I'm so glad to know that Ronnie has many loving people in his life. Staying sober is a day at a time deal for chronic alcoholics...I am so glad to hear from him how he notices the improvements in his life when he stays off the sauce. Kudos Ronnie!
xxoo,
Martha
PS Of course he reads this! ;-) |
|
