Happy Birthday Charlie!

TODAY is Charlie Watts 73rd Birthday.  Cool, so I'll talk about him TOMORROW .. 'cause YESTERDAY was Ron Wood's Birthday, and I want to talk about him TODAY!  Simple, right?   June 1st was Ronnie's 67th birthday, if that's not fudged, and it was also the date in 1975 that he played live with the Stones as the replacement for Mick Taylor because he could play a slide and do some of the other things that Mick Taylor could do.  Don't ask me which was their best line-up ... with Ronnie or Mick ... because it's a photo-finish.  I'll say that I was a huge fan of Mick Taylor...my favorite Stones song ever is "Time Waits For No One", which I don't think they've ever played live since Taylor left the band.  But, what began in 1975 with Ron Wood, turned in to one of the rock 'n roll's best Rhythm sections ever.  Plus, his list of collaborations with other musicians over the years is pretty impressive...Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, Bo Diddley, Ringo Starr, Aretha Franklin, Prince ... lightweights, right?   Ron Wood was the most "high-strung" musician I ever met, he's struggled with alcohol most of his life, and I hated that he had an affair with George Harrison's wife ... but let's give credit where it's due.  Ron Wood  belongs in the upper-echelon of rock musicians, period.  So Stones fans, today I salute you!