The Author

How Can It Be?

After the Birds Ronnie Wood went on to take America by storm with the Jeff Beck Group. He then went on to play with the Faces before joining the Rolling Stones in 1975. Forty-five years later the Stones continue to make music history.

'None of us thought the Birds were going to be forever. I've always known that I was going to be established, go to America and be in the Rolling Stones.' - Ronnie Wood

'Ronnie is in the top flight as a musician,' comments art critic Edward Lucie-Smith, 'but he's also a fully trained artist... his striking study of Eric Clapton is worthy of the National Portrait Gallery.' Wood's work has been exhibited across the globe and his fans include President Bill Clinton, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jack Nicholson and Sir Peter Blake.

'If I chose music, I'd always be drawing, and if I chose painting, I'd always be playing.' - Ronnie Wood

The Diary

How Can It Be?

Ronnie Wood's original handwritten diary is shared here for the first time giving unique insight into his life and the period. The Animals, The Artwoods, Long John Baldry, Shirley Bassey, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Jeff Beck, Chuck Berry, The Birds, David Bowie, The Byrds, Eric Clapton, Spencer Davies, Deep Purple, Bo Diddley, Donovan, Bob Dylan, Everly Brothers, the Faces, Marianne Faithfull, Fleetwood Mac, Marvin Gaye, Gene Vincent, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Grateful Dead, The Hollies, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, Jimi Hendrix, Hubert Sumlin, Elton John, Davy Jones, The Kinks, Alexis Korner, Lemmy, Little Walter, Martha & the Vandellas, John Mayall, Zoot Money, Moody Blues, Jimmy Page, Wilson Pickett, The Pretty Things, Jimmy Reed, The Rolling Stones, Sandie Shaw, Jimmy Smith, Rod Stewart, The Temptations, The Tremeloes, Jethro Tull, Muddy Waters, Stevie Winwood, The Who, Stevie Wonder, The Yardbirds ...and many more.

'Our overspilling energy was enough to chase girls, write songs, rehearse, play... It was a continuous adventure.' - Ronnie Wood

The Photography

How Can It Be?

How Can It Be? A Rock & Roll Diary includes rare and unseen photographs taken by Ronnie Wood's friends, family and bandmates. Colour and black and white shots bring his stories to life, depicting 'strange photocalls', road trips and plenty of high-energy performances. Archival images also illustrate events in the diary, from seeing the Stones on TV to filming alongside Marianne Faithfull. Historical memorabilia - including newspaper clippings, album artwork, concert posters and contracts - are also reproduced throughout the book, and in facsimile as additional loose-leaf items.'I was pleasantly surprised to find some of the stuff from the time, that I still cherish the memory of.' - Ronnie Wood