'Papa Was a Rolling Stone'

Ronnie Wood’s son accuses his Rolling Stone dad of having ‘no loyalty’ because ‘he was off drunk’, tells how he grew up with ‘no friends’ because of his father’s fame.. and his parents’ divorce ‘destroyed me’

• Jamie Wood, 48, spoke candidly about rock-and-roll childhood in new interview
• He said he grew up with ‘no friends’, and was ‘destroyed’ by his parents’ divorce
• Read more: ‘I love him but he’s not my dad – he’s a mate!’

The son of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood has revealed how his parents’ divorce ‘destroyed him’ – and proved there was ‘no loyalty’ from his father. 

In a candid interview with The Times, Jamie Wood, 48, delved into his experience growing up with an astronomically famous father, and the impact this had on his upbringing.

Jamie, who now has three children of his own, is not Ronnie’s biological son, but grew up with the musician, his mother Jo Wood and three siblings – Leah, Tyrone and Jesse.

He described growing up with his unusual family as ‘always being second’ to his father, who Jamie said ‘always came first’.

The father-of-three attended 17 schools in various countries, and Jamie recalled coming downstairs in the early hours to the likes of Christopher Reeve and Michael J Fox in his home.

Ronnie Wood and Jo Wood with their children Leah and Tyrone, his son Jesse and her son Jamie during their 24-year marriage

He also told the newspaper that he became aware of the drugs in his house at an early age, and from 10 he was stealing Keith Richards’ joints from the ashtray.

‘Dad was God,’ he said, adding that Ronnie’s fame meant he had ‘no friends’ as no parents would allow their children to visit the Woods house. 

Jamie’s life hit a rockier patch in 2011, when his ex-model mother and Ronnie went through a turbulent divorce – all in the public eye.

Jo and Ronnie had separated three years earlier after 24 years of marriage. 

This was sparked by his father’s infidelity, and, as reported in The Times, his ‘stumbling into the house with a cocktail waitress’ in 2009.

Shortly before this, Jamie had been organising his father’s affairs after a property deal allegedly turned bad. Jamie claimed that Ronnie was forced to remortgage his £5 million home. 

In a candid interview with The Times, Jamie Wood, 48, delved into his experience growing up with an astronomically famous father, and the impact this had on his upbringing

Jamie, who now has three children of his own, is not Ronnie’s biological son, but grew up with the musician, his mother Jo Wood and three siblings – Leah, Tyrone and Jesse

He described growing up with his unusual family as ‘always being second’ to his father, who Jamie said ‘always came first’

The problem being, lawyers organising the divorce wanted a ‘clean break’, and Jamie claimed he was never paid for his managerial role. 

The situation ‘destroyed me’, Jamie said. ‘There was no loyalty there. 

‘He was off, drunk.’

When Jamie tried to get his father to intervene ‘he didn’t pick up’. 

Jamie was previously forced to deny rumours he was selling £1.5million worth of his father’s memorabilia.

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, the 48-year-old insisted that he’s not interested in living in the ‘shadow’ of the iconic rock group – clearing up the much-publicised ‘rift’ between him and Ronnie.

He also told the newspaper that he became aware of the drugs in his house at an early age, and from 10 he was stealing Keith Richards’ joints from the ashtray

‘Dad was God,’ he said, adding that Ronnie’s fame meant he had ‘no friends’ as no parents would allow their children to visit the Woods house

‘It’s not a feud. But Ronnie’s not my dad. I think of him as a mate,’ Jamie explained in 2020. ‘We text now and again – you know, “how are you mate, happy birthday” – but it’s not a feud, it’s just how its always been.’

This is also far from the first time Jamie has been candid about his childhood.

‘I lived with him since I was one-year-old. I’m surprised he remembers me to be honest,’ he said. ‘He was probably like “who is this 21-year-old?” when I grew up.

‘He spent the first 12 years locked in the toilet – partying, drinking. You can’t look after kids in that condition. We never had much of a relationship. 

‘Ronnie was a dude mum was with – the dude it’s all about.’

His mother, Jo, split from Jamie’s biological father Peter Greene in 1976.

His mother, Jo, split from Jamie’s biological father Peter Greene in 1976

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