Ronnie Wood (Shine A Light) Interview

How does it feel being a film star, Ronnie?

Well, considering that the last time that Marty was in Berlin it was for Raging Bull, it’s kind of ‘Wow! what a juxtaposition!’ And of course we don’t do films. We’re a band! So it was rather surreal, man. And after all the red carpet stuff, I think one of these is enough! Just being on the red carpet is hilarious. You’re circulating three times around and suddenly you are talking to Sky news and all your mates are seeing you. It’s part of the circus.

Watching the film last night, did you learn anything new about your performance, seeing it that close?

Yeah, it’s funny to see the Rolling Stones through the eyes of Marty Scorsese. I learnt that it’s not just the concert footage; it’s seeing through the eyes of all these cinematographers under the direction of Marty. It’s got to be good.

How did you feel looking at the old footage of yourself?

I think World in Action stuff with Mick in the kaftan and the Bishop of Woolwich with the helicopter in the background summed it all up. That bit of the footage is fantastic.

How do you all get on these days, is there ever friction?

We try to stay away from each other when we’re not on stage! No, I’m joking. Mick says that I’ve got a new swimming pool so he’s definitely coming to be over more often! He’s going to bring his kids over!

Ever fancied your hand at acting in a feature movie?

Mick was always more of the movie man. He’s made a film called The Women, a remake of a film from the ’40s. When I found out it was called The Women, I wanted to go down to the set of that film! It’s got amazing people in it — Annette Bening, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bette Midler is in it. Obviously Mick’s not in it, not being a woman, but he got offered some part while we were in Berlin doing the premiere. I tell you, I still like that film he did, Performance. I do still love that film!

How did you decide who should be your guests in the film?

We always have guests in shows, like our dear Amy Winehouse was our guest recently. But Buddy Guy was great; we’d played with him before. And we knew Jack White already, but then Christina Aguilera was the unknown quantity to us, but, man has she got a fantastic voice. She was brilliant, Christina, amazing. Like Aretha Franklin.


Shine A Light, Oscar® winning director Martin Scorsese’s motion picture about the The Rolling Stones, will be released in cinemas nationwide by Twentieth Century Fox on 11th April 2008.