Ronnie Wood Says The Stones Will Keep Touring

As for last week’s ceremony with 34-year-old theatre producer Sally Humphreys, Wood told The Sun, “I’m feeling great.” He added, “It was excellent, so great. Brilliant.”

Apparently he’s also feeling pretty optimistic about the Stones returning to the stage.

The Telegraph, which went with a headline declaring the “Rolling Stones will never retire,” reports that the guitarist said the band members want to perform until “they can no longer stand up.”

Wood referenced American blues singer Howlin’ Wolf.

“I think of Howlin’ Wolf plugging in to his kidney machine, however old he was, 80 or something, and still playing,” Wood told the Telegraph. “You just rock till you drop.”

Before the Stones returned to the stage this fall for the band’s first shows since 2007, Wood hinted the band might be up for more dates than the handful of “50 & Counting” performances in the U.K. and the U.S.

“Once this wheel is turning I don’t think it will be able to stop … We won’t be able to stop,” Wood said at October’s premier of the Stones documentary “Crossfire Hurricane,” according to the Associated Press.

The last show of the Stones’ 50th anniversary tour took place Dec. 15 in Newark, N.J., at the Prudential Center, featuring guest appearances from Bruce Springsteen and Lady Gaga.

“This could be the last time; I don’t know,” Mick Jagger told the crowd, according to the Associated Press. The frontman later seemed to reassure fans that it wasn’t the end, saying “We hope to see you all again soon.”

Here’s an interesting side note. Howlin’ Wolf never performed at age 80 because he died when he was 65. Wood is already living the dream of playing as long as Howlin’ Wolf did. Wood’s age? At 65, he’s the youngest member of the band. Charlie Watts is the oldest at 71. Jagger and Keith Richards are both 69.