Ronnie Wood says Toronto holds a special place in his journey with the Rolling Stones, describing the band’s famous 1977 El Mocambo performances as an important early chapter in his life as a Stone.
Nearly five decades after the band secretly performed at the Toronto club under the name The Cockroaches, Wood still remembers those shows as part of his initiation into the group. At the time, he had only recently joined the band and was experiencing the wild, unpredictable world that surrounded Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the Rolling Stones.
Wood recalls being unwell during that Toronto stay and going to bed, only to have Jagger and Richards remove the door from his hotel room and take his champagne. He says the moment reflected the mischievous spirit of the band during that era.
As the Rolling Stones prepare to release their 25th studio album, “Foreign Tongues,” on July 10, Wood says the group has tried to recapture some of the raw and loose energy that marked those early years. He describes the new music as lively, guitar-driven and full of solos, joking that he asked Jagger for more lead guitar moments even though Jagger reminded him he already had solos on every song.
Earlier this year, the band released the single “Rough and Twisted” under The Cockroaches name, bringing back the alias connected to their secret club appearances in the 1970s. Wood says that identity began in Canada and remains closely linked to the excitement of the El Mocambo shows.
The 1977 performances became legendary because fans entered the small Toronto club expecting to see April Wine with an unknown opening act, only to discover they were watching the Rolling Stones. The visit also became famous for the legal trouble involving Keith Richards and Anita Pallenberg after a police raid at their hotel. Wood says the controversy did not weaken the performances and may have added even more intensity to them.
According to Wood, “Foreign Tongues” carries a similar sense of urgency and excitement. After the success of the band’s 2023 album “Hackney Diamonds,” the Stones wanted to keep their momentum going with producer Andrew Watt. Wood says the band has regained its drive and creative energy.
The album also reflects today’s world and the passage of time. Some songs touch on modern politics and social change, while others look at loss, friendship and survival. Wood says one emotional guitar solo was influenced by the deaths of musical figures he admired, including Brian Wilson and Sly Stone.
The album also includes one of Charlie Watts’ final recording sessions. Watts, the Stones’ longtime drummer, died in 2021, but appears on the track “Hit Me in the Head.” Another song pays tribute to Amy Winehouse, whom Wood knew personally and remembers as a gifted but troubled artist.
Wood says his own life has changed greatly after years of rock-and-roll excess. Now 16 years sober, he says he feels grateful for his health, his family and the chance to continue making music. He also credits himself with helping keep the Rolling Stones together during difficult periods, especially when tensions between Jagger and Richards threatened the future of the band.
More than 60 years after the Rolling Stones began, Wood says the band still wants to perform and promote the new album. Although no 2026 tour has been announced, he says the Stones remain eager to return to the stage because playing live is still what they love most.