Just days before The Rolling Stones launched their explosive Hackney Diamonds tour in Houston on April 28, guitarist Ronnie Wood experienced a moment of pure rock royalty magic—and it didn’t even happen on stage.
Backstage at the show, Wood opened up to The U.S. Sun about a night he’ll never forget. While rehearsing in Los Angeles, the Stones were joined by none other than Paul McCartney, who stopped by to lend his support and offer some musical wisdom. But what came next was even more surreal.
“Paul is just incredible,” Wood said. “He came to a few rehearsals, gave us some beautiful input—and then he did something that blew me away.”
Before the band hit the road, McCartney threw Ronnie and his wife Sally a surprise farewell party. And as if that gesture wasn’t legendary enough, McCartney had one more trick up his sleeve: a secret dinner guest—Neil Young.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Wood recalled. “Neil’s an old mate I hadn’t seen in years. It was so lovely. Just the three of us, guitars, stories, and laughter. Pure magic.”
McCartney, who played bass on the snarling track “Bite My Head Off” from Hackney Diamonds, clearly still thrives in the company of rock comrades.
As for Neil Young, the reunion isn’t over. “We’re meeting up again in Louisiana for the New Orleans blues festival,” Wood said, hinting at more musical mischief to come. Both The Rolling Stones and Neil Young & Crazy Horse are set to headline the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival this week.
Wood also gave fans a peek behind the curtain, revealing how seriously the Stones approached this tour. “We really had our noses to the grindstone in LA—five weeks of intense rehearsals,” he shared. “It takes work to get stadium-ready again.”
Their Houston set delivered big, with 18 songs mixing Stones staples and fresh cuts from Hackney Diamonds. “We owe our fans the hits,” Wood explained, “but we always love blending the old with the new. That’s who we are.”
And with McCartney’s support, a Neil Young reunion, and a reinvigorated tour kicking off, it’s clear: Ronnie Wood is riding high on one unforgettable start to 2024.
Houston Highlight Video
Fans can check out a highlight video of the Houston concert at The Rolling Stones’ YouTube channel. The clip features footage of the band playing snippets of “Start Me Up” and the Hackney Diamonds song “Angry.” It also captures Mick Jagger talking to the crowd, saying, “We always had a great time in Texas. We came first to Texas in 1964. That was my first rodeo.”
Watch the video down below and don’t forget to share this beautiful song with your friends and family…
Wood Is Selling Prints of His Hand-Drawn Set Lists Again
As he’s done regularly in recent years, Wood is creating hand-drawn set lists for each concert on the current Rolling Stones tour and selling limited-edition art prints of his creations.
Copies of the Houston set list are available now at Wood’s online store, and prints of upcoming set lists also can be pre-ordered. The first 750 set lists purchased for each show will come with a uniquely designed guitar pick. The prints are priced at $100.
More About The Rolling Stones’ 2024 Tour
As mentioned earlier The Rolling Stones’ 2024 tour in support of Hackney Diamonds continues on Thursday, May 2, at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The trek, which features a total of 19 concerts, is scheduled through a July 17 performance in Santa Clara, California.
The tour also features multiple shows at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey; Soldier Field in Chicago; and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Tickets for The Rolling Stones’ concerts are available now via various outlets, including StubHub.
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