Ronnie Wood: Capturing the Spirit of Hendrix and the Future of the Rolling Stones

Introduction: A Bridge Between Legends

In the hallowed, wood-paneled corridors of London’s Handel Hendrix House on Brook Street, the past and the present are currently colliding in a vibrant explosion of color and memory. Ronnie Wood, the legendary Rolling Stones guitarist and accomplished visual artist, has unveiled his latest project: Ronnie Wood: The Jimi Hendrix Portraits.

The exhibition, which transforms Hendrix’s former Mayfair apartment—a space shared with the ghost of 18th-century composer George Frideric Handel—serves as a deeply personal homage to the man who redefined the electric guitar. For Wood, these portraits are more than mere aesthetic exercises; they are the result of a lifelong friendship, a creative dialogue between two icons of the 1960s, and a testament to an era that changed the landscape of music forever.

Beyond the gallery walls, the conversation inevitably turns to the future. As fans wonder about the next chapter for The Rolling Stones, Wood remains a man in motion, balancing his own artistic pursuits with the enduring, if complex, legacy of the world’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll band.

The Chronology of a Creative Bond

To understand the weight behind Wood’s new collection, one must travel back to 1966. A young, hungry Ronnie Wood was making his mark as the bassist for The Jeff Beck Group when he first crossed paths with Jimi Hendrix. London was the epicenter of a musical revolution, and Hendrix was its undisputed, albeit enigmatic, vanguard.

"I got to know him when he was a name that was already on people’s lips," Wood recounts. "People like Eric Clapton would say, ‘Have you seen this new phenomenon?’ And with the people that were in the know back in the ’60s, the word would pass around very quickly: ‘OK, you’ve got to see this new boy in town’."

Their friendship deepened in the smoky, high-energy environment of London’s club scene, most notably at The Speakeasy Club in Soho. It was there that the two forged a bond that would eventually lead them to share a residence in Holland Park. This proximity provided Wood with a rare, unfiltered view of Hendrix—a man defined by his pyrotechnic stage presence but plagued by a profound, quiet shyness in his personal life.

The current exhibition, which runs until April 11, 2027, features a curation of these memories. Alongside established sketches and canvases, Wood has unveiled two previously unseen original portraits, capturing the duality of a man who was simultaneously the most confident guitarist on the planet and a human being deeply insecure about his own vocal capabilities.

Supporting Data: The Artistic Process

The Handel Hendrix House serves as a fitting backdrop for the exhibition. The juxtaposition of Handel, a master of the Baroque, and Hendrix, a master of feedback and distortion, underscores the universal language of genius.

Wood’s artistic approach to the portraits is visceral. He speaks of the difficulty of painting Hendrix, noting that the icon’s face was "very expressive and, in a way, very hard to paint." He admits, "Sometimes I’d get the eyes wrong or something. But the general effect is there, and the general essence of Jimi and the spirit—it comes across."

This isn’t a hobby for Wood; it is a serious, lifelong discipline. The scale of his ambition is evident in his upcoming projects. Following the conclusion of the London show, Wood is preparing for a massive retrospective in Tübingen, Germany, scheduled for November. This exhibition will encompass over 100 original paintings, 150 prints, and various sculptures, effectively filling an entire museum.

Official Responses and Reflections

In an exclusive interview with NME, Wood provided a candid look at the "hidden" Jimi Hendrix—a side of the icon often eclipsed by the myth.

"Probably that he was a very personalised figure and almost a recluse in his private life," Wood reveals. "He was very shy, and he didn’t like the way he sang either. I remember he was worried about his voice. I said to him, ‘I don’t think you should worry about that, Jimi… With the way you play guitar, it makes up for it.’ I told him to stop worrying about his singing voice because it complemented the way he played."

This intimate knowledge is what separates Wood’s portraits from the thousands of posters and prints that have circulated for decades. He is painting a friend, not a monument.

When the conversation shifted toward the current state of The Rolling Stones, Wood was characteristically optimistic, though pragmatic. Despite the recent decision to scrap plans for a 2026 UK and European stadium tour due to Keith Richards’ inability to commit, Wood remains "ready."

"I’m totally immersed in my Ammo band at the moment," Wood said, referring to his current project that has been touring Europe and heading for South America. "When my compadres say, ‘Let’s go,’ I’ll be ready. I’ve got no plans yet, though, except my plans to play South America."

Regarding the internal dynamics of the Stones, Wood offered a glimpse into the differing gears of his bandmates. "I know Mick [Jagger] is busting to go, and Keith is not busting to go. And you’ve got to have everybody’s enthusiasm to do it."

Implications: The Future of Rock Icons

The uncertainty surrounding a Rolling Stones tour highlights a recurring question in the industry: how long can the legends of the 20th century continue to operate at a stadium level? While Wood is clearly eager to perform, he acknowledges that the synergy required for a Stones tour is a fragile, collective endeavor.

When pressed about the possibility of a slot at Glastonbury 2027, Wood did not hesitate. "I would play that in the drop of a hat, but everybody doesn’t think like that. I think we should do a gig, just like you do. And I think we should do a tour, but it’s easier said than done."

Furthermore, the "long-rumoured" Faces reunion—the band that propelled Wood to international stardom alongside Rod Stewart—remains a "someday" prospect. With Rod Stewart currently embarking on what has been described as his final tour cycle, the window for a meaningful reunion is tightening. However, Wood remains unbothered by the pressure of time, noting that the band has "a lot of good Faces stuff in the bag."

The "Foreign Tongues" Legacy

The conversation also touched upon the reception of Foreign Tongues, the latest Stones-related project. Wood noted that while the initial presentation with Mick Jagger was a success, the album requires a "full unit" to be properly realized in a live setting. It is a sentiment that underscores the current state of the Stones: a band with the creative fire to produce new music, but currently navigating the logistical and psychological complexities of their later years.

Conclusion

Ronnie Wood stands at a unique intersection of history. As a painter, he is immortalizing the giants who walked beside him. As a musician, he remains a vital, working artist, refusing to be defined solely by the legacy of the Rolling Stones.

Whether he is captured by the brush or the guitar string, Wood’s output continues to bridge the gap between the mythic past of the 1960s and the realities of the modern music industry. The Jimi Hendrix Portraits exhibition is more than just a trip down memory lane; it is a vibrant reminder that for men like Wood, the creative journey never truly stops. It simply changes form.

As we look toward 2027, one thing is certain: whether it is on the walls of a museum in Germany, the stage of a festival in the UK, or the recording studio with his "compadres," Ronnie Wood will be playing, painting, and moving forward.

The Ronnie Wood: The Jimi Hendrix Portraits exhibition is open now at the Handel Hendrix House museum until April 11, 2027. Tickets and further information are available via the official museum website.