Iconic music requires iconic musicians. Okay, not always, but these three artists absolutely fit the description. You know them, sure, but did you know how much of an impact they've truly had on rock music? Well, you're about to.
In some cases - okay, every case - these artists paired up with other megatars. They've all paired up at one time or another, but never recorded as a trio, sadly. They have all performed together, though, for one very special concert. If only they had formed yet another supergroup after that...
I suppose that's alright. We got more than our share of megawatt-powered bands from them as it is, including some of the earliest. Which makes sense, as they were all born within three years of each other. With the talent these three icons possess, it's no wonder they all crossed paths so often.
Three rock stars that powered more bands than you knew
Ronnie Wood
He's the guy on the left in the photo. Anyone who claims classic rock membership knows Wood as a member of the Rolling Stones. But as with the two other rock icons here, Ronnie Wood took his time to reach his final destination. Unlike them, he's still with the group that brought him his greatest success. Hard to think of him as playing with anyone but Keith and Mick, but indeed he did.
Wood began his career in 1964 with the Birds (not to be confused with the iconic L.A. band, the Byrds). He joined the Jeff Beck Group in 1967, teaming up with vocalist Rod Stewart and, obviously, Jeff Beck. Wood played guitar and bass on the albums Truth and Beck-ola. When the group disbanded in 1969, Wood and Stewart formed the group Faces.
It took a while for the band to find success. Their first two albums, First Step and Long Player, didn't exactly light up the charts. Their debut record peaked at number 45 in the U.K., while 1971's follow-up did manage to reach the top 50 in both the U.S. and Great Britain.
Their third album, 1971's A Nod's as Good as a Wink...to a Blind Horse, changed everything. It reached number two in the U.K. and number 6 in the U.S., largely powered by the huge single, "Stay With Me." Wood played lead, slide, and acoustic guitar, along with some harmonicas, just for kicks.
As Stewart found more and more success with his solo efforts, the band gradually fell apart and called it a wrap in 1975. While this was going on, Wood stepped up his solo career and released the cheeky I've Got My Own Album To Do in 1974.
You may have heard of a couple of his bandmates on this one, George Harrison and Keith Richards. He sat in with the Stones for 1975's Black and Blue and toured with them that same year.
Shortly after Faces officially called it quits, Wood became a permanent member of "The World's Greatest Rock 'n Roll Band." My vote goes to the Captain and Tennille, but I have a feeling I'm in the minority there. Ronnie mainly plays slide guitar with the Stones, but also adds lap and pedal steel guitars to the mix.
He's also continued his solo work and recorded as a session artist with acts as varied as Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, and B.B. King. No one will ever put him in the pantheon of guitar gods, unlike the third fellow on my list. Still, Ronnie Wood is the glue that binds one of the greatest bands ever.
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