Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood says technology takes ‘heartbeat’ away from music

He spoke at a launch event for the hardback edition of Buddy Holly: Words Of Love, a book that celebrates the life of the late rock and roll musician.

Laured Del Fabbro
2 April 2025


With Roger Daltrey - Lucy North/PA

Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood said technology is taking away from the “heartbeat” of modern music.

The rock star spoke at a launch event for the hardback edition of Buddy Holly: Words Of Love – a book that celebrates the life of the late rock and roll musician and songwriter, Buddy Holly.

On shelves from April 8, the book documents Holly’s career and legacy through a collection of never-before-seen photography and personal items as well as stories from those close to him.

Holly was an American singer and songwriter and has been described as playing a key role in shaping rock and roll music.

He died in a plane crash when he was 22 years old and is best known for his songs It Doesn’t Matter Anymore, Peggy Sue and Everyday.

Wood is also behind the cover art of the hardback edition.


Lucy North/PA

Speaking on a Q&A panel alongside The Who’s Roger Daltrey, Wood discussed modern music and said: “We were throwing shit at the wall and some of it stuck. There’s something about the technology I feel personally, we’re losing the essence of the heartbeat.

“Maybe its because I’m older, but there’s not much new music.”

Joining the rock stars was 27-year-old singer Yungblud, also known as Dominic Richard Harrison, who said Holly’s music taught him what he knows about rock and roll and sees technology as a way that allows musicians to be authentic again.

He said: “I think rock music has been so convoluted because we got to be forced and twisted for a mainstream audience to turn the guitar down.

“Modern music’s been in a strange place, but it’s exciting because it’s really, I feel it’s very democratic again.

“For the past four years a lot of majors have been able to control what we’ve been placed in front of us, but we know apps like TikTok, Instagram and everything like that I really find that people can provide authenticity again directly.

“If you have a story to tell, you can tell it and tell it to the world. You don’t have to go through seven steps.

“The balance has never changed. I think that’s what’s really cool about how rock music at the minute, and modern rock and roll music, I really feel like it’s finding its bounce back, and it’s becoming hysterical again and it’s exciting. It’s becoming younger again. That’s really cool.”

The hardback edition of Buddy Holly: Words Of Love follows from the limited-edition version – of which only 559 copies were made.

Published by Genesis Publications, the book was made in partnership with María Elena Holly and the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation, and features an original cover art created specially by Wood.

The hardback edition will be in stores with a RRP of £60, with proceeds from the sales of benefiting Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America.

[www.standard.co.uk]

Excellent will be getting the book .Buddy wrote so much great music in his short 18 month recording career.

Thank you for posting

I love Buddy Holly's great rockers... why would anybody not? But find almost all of his ballads insufferably saccharine and never play them.

The most offbeat rock n roll historical items I own are two... or is it three? (I forget where I have them)... 1957 and 1958 Billboard magazines that his father owned.

Mr. Holley (with an "e") of Lubbock as I understand it was very skeptical of Buddy's foray into music... until Buddy broke big and actually started making money from record sales. (The normal pattern for parents of nascent rockers with big dreams.)

Mr. Holley began buying Billboard magazines, going through them thoroughly (I'm surprised at how many different record charts there were), and with a red ink pen he neatly circled every one of his son's songs.

An early rock star's dad's Billboard magazines don't exactly amount to a hot collectable, but I kinda like them.

****
I'm down in Virginia
with your Cousin Lou

Love Buddy Holly. Of all those greats’ from the 1950’s, he’s the one who would have evolved and embraced the changes of the decade to follow. He was going in such a different direction with It Doesn’t Matter Anymore and True Love Ways. It’ll forever be case of what if…?, sadly.

Quote
TheBluesHadaBaby
I love Buddy Holly's great rockers... why would anybody not? But find almost all of his ballads insufferably saccharine and never play them.

The most offbeat rock n roll historical items I own are two... or is it three? (I forget where I have them)... 1957 and 1958 Billboard magazines that his father owned.

Mr. Holley (with an "e") of Lubbock as I understand it was very skeptical of Buddy's foray into music... until Buddy broke big and actually started making money from record sales. (The normal pattern for parents of nascent rockers with big dreams.)

Mr. Holley began buying Billboard magazines, going through them thoroughly (I'm surprised at how many different record charts there were), and with a red ink pen he neatly circled every one of his son's songs.

An early rock star's dad's Billboard magazines don't exactly amount to a hot collectable, but I kinda like them.

I think that's very cool indeed!

Release date: 4 April, 2025

PROFITS FROM THE SALE OF THIS PRINT EDITION WILL BENEFIT THE TEENAGE CANCER TRUST

EACH PRINT IS HAND SIGNED BY RONNIE WOOD AND IS NUMBERED OUT OF A LIMITED EDITION OF 295 PRINTS

Digital prints, numbered and individually hand signed by Ronnie Wood
Each print is from a limited edition of 295

[shop.ronniewood.com]

Thanks for the info, bbj, am off to buy the book.

~"Love is Strong"~

Ronnie, bless his heart, he's a good bit out of touch.

At least he acknowledges it.

Rock Legends Celebrate Buddy Holly - UK Book Launch


Dave Hogan

[www.genesis-publications.com]

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Buddy Holly: Words of Love Book Launch Event | Interviews with Ronnie Wood, Roger Daltrey, Yungblud