SALLY WOOD roars into action with Rolling Stones husband Ronnie
TAKES PRIDE IN WORKS OF ART AS THE STONES HELP DREAMS COME TRUE
‘Their confidence soars through music. It’s wonderful to see’
For six decades, The Rolling Stones have entertained with non- stop hits – and now they’re hoping to bring Satisfaction to scores of young people by making their dreams of a music career come true. Last week, guitarist Ronnie Wood stepped out with his wife Sally to open a state- of- the- art recording studio that the band helped create in partnership with the Community Links centre in Canning Town, London.
“I remember the help I got as a youngster and it is only right that, through this great charity, the Stones are giving a hand to all the budding musicians in East London,” said the musician.
“It was amazing and such an honour,” adds Sally in this exclusive interview with hello!. “Some of the young people performed for us and you can tell it’s life-changing for them. Their confidence soars through music and creativity. It’s wonderful to see.
“It reminded me of the studios at the Roundhouse Theatre, which I also support. They’re incredible.”
Now Ronnie, 74, and Sally, 43, are gearing up to hit the road again on The Rolling Stones’ No Filter tour. “Everyone is so excited,” says Sally. “We can’t wait.”
However, they’ll be missing band member Charlie Watts from the US dates – the drummer’s spokesman last week said he needed “proper rest and recuperation” after “a procedure which was completely successful”.
It follows the postponement of the group’s sell-out North American concerts in early 2019, when singer Sir Mick Jagger had to undergo heart valve replacement surgery.
Despite this, the dynamic Jumping Jack Flash is now raring to go after celebrating his 78th birthday last month with a glittering glamping party joined by family and friends.
“It was a beautiful night and a real treat to see people dressed up and allowed to party again,” Sally says.
CATS IN THE WEST END
Film and theatre producer Sally has also been busy, co-producing Footballers’ Wives – The Musical with the original TV show writer Maureen Chadwick, and the soon- to- be- released film Vindication Swim, starring Victoria Summer.
In addition, this week, she and Ronnie will showcase two breathtaking works of art close to their hearts. The artistic duo have each designed decoration for life-sized lion sculptures that will form part of a curated art trail in a global celebration of African lions.
Sally’s cool cat will be showcased on London’s Carnaby Street, while Ronnie’s king of the jungle will cause a stir a stone’s throw away.
“His lion will be holding up traffic on Piccadilly Circus,” Sally says with a smile. “How incredible is that?”
The striking sculptures form part of a pride that silently prowls through iconic locations around the world, serving to highlight the threat lions face to their existence every day.
Spearheaded by the conservation charity Tusk,
the campaign ties in with Lion Awareness Week and has the support of more than 45 artists, musicians and sportspeople. They include wildlife photographer David Yarrow, fashion designer Donna Karan and actor John Cleese, who have all put their creative mark on the noble beasts.
Each sculpture will be auctioned off on 9 November, with funds raised going towards Tusk and various conservation programmes.
‘It’s heartbreaking that lions have become endangered’
NEED FOR ACTION
An accomplished artist and ambassador for the charity, Ronnie designed two lions at his studio while Sally created a glitter- glazed animal, collaborating with scenic artist Jess Power.
“I was inspired by the African landscape at sunset and all endangered animals, but mainly the lion,” she says. “For me, this noble creature signifies strength, courage and leadership. They’re incredible animals – so powerful and utterly beautiful – and it’s heartbreaking that they’ve become an endangered species. We must do all we can to protect them.”
The couple’s five- year- old twins, Alice and Gracie, also joined in the creative process, showing off their artistic talents with a lion and rhino of their own. “They’re in the garden and they’re huge,” Sally tells us. “The girls adore wildlife. If it moves, they’re into it.”
Faced with the daunting statistic that the African lion population has halved over the past 25 years, Sally hopes they get the chance to see lions in their natural habitat in the future.
“I’ve never been on safari, although Ronnie has many times,” she says. “We’d love to go as a H family one day.”