In Martin Elliot’s book, it’s stated that Ronnie’s pre-gig routine during the Bridges to Babylon tour consisted of four pints of Guinness and - I think - two large vodka and cokes.

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Big Al
In Martin Elliot’s book, it’s stated that Ronnie’s pre-gig routine during the Bridges to Babylon tour consisted of four pints of Guinness and - I think - two large vodka and cokes.

Surely he’d have needed to have a wee at some stage during the show if he drank that much. I do remember from the Chris Evans Stones special on Channel 4 Ronnie saying something like he had a nip of vodka before going on

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Big Al
In Martin Elliot’s book, it’s stated that Ronnie’s pre-gig routine during the Bridges to Babylon tour consisted of four pints of Guinness and - I think - two large vodka and cokes.

There again, not exactly the consumption of a raging alcoholic, that's basically a couple hours drinking max to a drinker , a real alcoholic would be half way into his second litre of spirits by Showtime, to me 4 Guinesses and a few Vodkas is just getting the party started.

Ronnie did say the last time he stopped drinking he did it on his own so i don't think Ronnie was too far gone with the drink, I know drinkers that would die if they just abruptly stopped, so as i say it's debatable Ronnie was a full blown alcoholic, more likely he just got too old to handle it.

What does sober mean to him? Only beer and vodka?

Some denial here. Ronnie was pretty bad for a long time -- neglected his family, often didn't play well, wasn't reliable or flat out not tour-able. He was propped up and supported by the Rolling Stones machine (same as Keith) for a long time. He's much better now and I am happy for him.

four pints of Guinness plus vodka and cokes? (Vodka and coke? Coca Cola? That makes me want to vomit just thinking about it). Thats an alcoholic's dinner right there, and to consume that before going to "work"? This is the only place on earth you will get away with that! I can tell you, for Guinness alone would put me on the floor, but i dont drink regularly. To me, this is the very definition of an alcoholic, having to consume that much before doing anything. He must have the constitution of an ox. No wonder Keef wanted him in the band, makes him look like a minor leaguer.

jb

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stone4ever

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Big Al
In Martin Elliot’s book, it’s stated that Ronnie’s pre-gig routine during the Bridges to Babylon tour consisted of four pints of Guinness and - I think - two large vodka and cokes.

There again, not exactly the consumption of a raging alcoholic, that's basically a couple hours drinking max to a drinker , a real alcoholic would be half way into his second litre of spirits by Showtime, to me 4 Guinesses and a few Vodkas is just getting the party started.

Ronnie did say the last time he stopped drinking he did it on his own so i don't think Ronnie was too far gone with the drink, I know drinkers that would die if they just abruptly stopped, so as i say it's debatable Ronnie was a full blown alcoholic, more likely he just got too old to handle it.

In related logic he also had no cancer.
What a waste of a five hour surgery.

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jbwelda
four pints of Guinness plus vodka and cokes? (Vodka and coke? Coca Cola? That makes me want to vomit just thinking about it). Thats an alcoholic's dinner right there, and to consume that before going to "work"? This is the only place on earth you will get away with that! I can tell you, for Guinness alone would put me on the floor, but i dont drink regularly. To me, this is the very definition of an alcoholic, having to consume that much before doing anything. He must have the constitution of an ox. No wonder Keef wanted him in the band, makes him look like a minor leaguer.

jb

exactly correct. If he had any job outside "entertainment" he'd be considered an alcoholic (and would've been fired).

Ronnie seems like a good guy....but downplaying his drinking (problem) is silly.

Everybody is different and everybody handles booze differently, but anybody in "real life" showing up at work noticeably drunk, hungover and/or smelling like booze consistently would be labeled as having a "drinking problem" and/or an "alcoholic." Full stop.

I lost all respect for "RonWood" the last 10 years. I used to love Now Look, Gimme Some Neck, etc, but now I don't even want to listen to his guitar.




Here's Erik on the right when he wasn't sober and he use ta love Ron's guitar .... Savoy Hotel London 2007



ROCKMAN

Ronnie’s pre-show consumption is fine For a night out, but not exactly ideal before a concert in front of thousands. In your 20’s? Yeah, why not? He was in his mid-50’s. There’s a reason he was ‘missing in action’ during that 1997-99 period!

May I be so impertinent to ask who the sweet lady in the middle is? Or is that stretching it too far, Rockman?

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Big Al
Ronnie’s pre-show consumption is fine For a night out, but not exactly ideal before a concert in front of thousands. In your 20’s? Yeah, why not? He was in his mid-50’s. There’s a reason he was ‘missing in action’ during that 1997-99 period!

This is getting silly, Ronnie goes on stage in the evening, there are so many people that drink four Guiness and a couple chasers in the evening, if that's considered a bad alcoholic i wonder what that makes me and my friends at the weekend, double that lot in an evening at the pub with a live band playing, and i'm 55 and very fit covering two marathons a week, it's really not a problem, where i live that's normal to socialise this way.

She's a Stones fan from Germany ... Cant recall
her name right at this very moment ... Caught up
with her again SAN JOSE, Ca. Stones show 2013 ....



ROCKMAN

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Rockman
I lost all respect for "RonWood" the last 10 years. I used to love Now Look, Gimme Some Neck, etc, but now I don't even want to listen to his guitar.




Here's Erik on the right when he wasn't sober and he use ta love Ron's guitar .... Savoy Hotel London 2007

Hey Rockman you remind me in that photo of Keith circa 83' dude you really got the hair and jacket going on too

The one on the B-side of Still Life picture disc !!!!


Some Toronto Girl there too .. in the reflection of the mirror



ROCKMAN

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Rockman
The one on the B-side of Still Life picture disc !!!!


Some Toronto Girl there too .. in the reflection of the mirror

Haha no, that's a bad one of Keith, I'm thinking of a few in the press 83' ish out and about on the town with Pattie, similar jacket.

Awwwww yeah ... that's a hand-made jacket
... Keef wouldnt have one of them ... but yeah hhhhaaaa



ROCKMAN

Looking good there Rockman, went straight for the cute ones did ya?

next time you are out San Jose way (yes i know the way to san jose), give me a yell and i will have you out to my herbs farm.


jb

....okay but i reckon its most likely gonna
be sometime before i gets meself ta San Jose again ...



ROCKMAN

Probably sooner than i will make it to Melbourne!

Keep it in mind though, be great to see you out this side

jb

...do you have any sisters ?????????



ROCKMAN

My sister is ugly, but got plenty of girlfriends!

jb

.... okay you take Sally ... I'll take Sue .....



ROCKMAN

Thats one for me and two for you.

jb

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stone4ever
pity he only looks at all those great fun years in such a negative way, bit of attention seeking going on no doubt, Ronnies always looking for a pat on the back, he should just be more cool about it, you no Keith just says i got fed up with drinking, nuff said.

Ronnie doesn't seem to be negative at all!

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When asked if was ready to get clean, he happily admitted: 'Yes I was. I don't have any bitterness or anger. I'm wiser now; I had a great time and I still do, but in a different way.'

In any case I agree with you that in these days my (and I understand yours as well) drinking habits fall in the category of (bad) "driking problems"

But I am quite sure that Ronnie's consumption was on another level. At least this was my impression reading his book-

There is a short snippet on one of the docus on the 4flix DVD set where he talks about his "habits". Remember a veil of sadness in his eyes, it lasted a blik, but it said more than 1,000 words

C

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liddas

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stone4ever
pity he only looks at all those great fun years in such a negative way, bit of attention seeking going on no doubt, Ronnies always looking for a pat on the back, he should just be more cool about it, you no Keith just says i got fed up with drinking, nuff said.

Ronnie doesn't seem to be negative at all!

Quote from the article

When asked if was ready to get clean, he happily admitted: 'Yes I was. I don't have any bitterness or anger. I'm wiser now; I had a great time and I still do, but in a different way.'

In any case I agree with you that in these days my (and I understand yours as well) drinking habits fall in the category of (bad) "driking problems"

But I am quite sure that Ronnie's consumption was on another level. At least this was my impression reading his book-

There is a short snippet on one of the docus on the 4flix DVD set where he talks about his "habits". Remember a veil of sadness in his eyes, it lasted a blik, but it said more than 1,000 words

C

Well yeah in Ronnies own words if they are to be believed he was drinking 2 bottles of vodka, a bottle of Sambuca and half a dozen Guinness a day. Looking at him i doubt it, that sort of consumption tends to put you on the floor or to bed and Ronnie is never a falling down drunk.
I'd say Ronnie got more out of drink than drink got out of him, same with Keith, watch Keith in an interview, he just takes occasional sips of his drink. These are highly functioning drinkers, i don't consider them to be alcoholic, that word is used on people too freely these day's, Ronnie and especially Keith could stop, that's not alcoholism in the true sense of the word.

And yeah Ronnie says he's happy, when he drank he claimed to be happy too, it's all good.