Ronnie Wood seeks his lost bandmates
When Ronnie Wood stepped back into the spotlight for the Fealess tour, he wasn’t just chasing a new sound; he was resurrecting a musical lineage. To fill the band, Wood reached back to two original musicians from his 1974 solo release, I’ve Got My Own Album To Do: bassist Willie Weeks and drummer Andy Newmark.
The formation of this ensemble was filled with a touch of anxiety. In a recent interview, Wood admitted his biggest concern wasn’t finding the musicians, but confirming that they were still alive and still playing. “I didn’t even know the guys I started with, Andy and Willie, I didn’t even know if they were still playing,” he shared. “And to find that they were still alive and still playing is even better. And they were grooving better than ever before.”
This reunion tapped into a rich history, as Newmark and Weeks were not strangers to Wood’s discography. They had contributed to Wood’s 1975 album Now Look and the 2001 release Not For Beginners, alongside their appearance on the 1974 live recording The First Barbarians: Live from Kilburn.
But the sounds of the Ammo Band soon expanded beyond its roots. Wood brought in a stellar collection of talent to complete the rhythm section and melodic structure. The lineup also included Taj Mahal’s guitarist Johnny Lee Schell, longtime keyboardist Andy Wallace, and vocalists Imelda May and Chanel Haynes, adding layers of complexity and flair to the proceedings.
Despite the excitement of the reunion, Wood emphasized the enduring need to keep creating. He felt that taking a temporary break was only worth it if he kept his musical hands and chops sharp. “There’s no better way to fill in a few months than to get my own band together and keep playing because I love to keep playing,” he stated, noting that the desire to make music is a trait shared by many legends, including Mick Jagger.
The rejuvenated Ammo Band has been putting on a successful run, completing a dozen European shows in the summer and now kicking off a thrilling series of dates across South America. With this momentum, Wood is exploring the possibility of recording a live album, promising fans a potent distillation of this spirited musical journey.
The tour is currently hitting key spots across the continent, including dates in São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Rosario, and Santiago, Chile, as part of the excitement generated by the resurrected lineup.
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