Jo Wood Says Rolling Stones Touring Days May Be Done Because of Keith Richards

Jo Wood, the former wife of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, says she does not expect the band to tour again, pointing directly at Keith Richards’ unwillingness to commit to a run of shows. Speaking to The Sun in an exclusive interview, Wood made the comments even as the Rolling Stones continue to enjoy success with their 25th studio album, Foreign Tongues, which has topped charts and drawn strong reviews.

“I can’t imagine it now [The Stones touring again],” Wood said. “I know that Keith doesn’t really want a tour, so he’d have to be really pushed into it.”

Wood was married to Ronnie Wood from 1985 to 2009 and the couple share two children. Despite the divorce, she and Ronnie Wood are said to remain on good terms, which puts her in a position to speak to the band’s inner workings even though she is not commenting on the band’s own behalf.

• Foreign Tongues is the Rolling Stones’ 25th studio album and has been both a chart-topper and a critical success.
• A planned 2026 tour of the UK and Europe was scrapped, reportedly because Richards could not commit to the schedule.
• An earlier report had the band eyeing a 2025 European tour with stops at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
• Drummer Charlie Watts died in 2021 at age 80; Steve Jordan has since taken his place, and the band has released two number one albums with him.
• The Rolling Stones have grossed close to $3 billion from touring across their career, reportedly making them the top-grossing live act in music history.

Why Jo Wood Thinks the Stones Can’t Continue Without Richards

Wood argued that the band’s identity is inseparable from the songwriting partnership of Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. “They’re called the Glimmer Twins, aren’t they,” she said. “They write under the Glimmer Twins, so without one or the other, there is no Stones.”

Jo Wood’s ABBA Voyage Suggestion for the Rolling Stones

Rather than a traditional tour, Wood floated the idea of the Rolling Stones adopting a hologram-style concert similar to ABBA’s Voyage production, which uses digital avatars of the band performing as they looked decades ago. She said she attended the ABBA show and came away convinced by the format, describing the effect as if the group were genuinely performing live. Wood added that she believes Mick Jagger, whom she called forward-thinking, would be open to that kind of technology.

Mick Jagger’s Own Comments on Touring Foreign Tongues

Jagger struck a different tone earlier this year, telling La Nación this summer that he hopes to get the new album onto the road. “I’d love to tour this album… I hope to tour next year,” he said, adding that he wants to do it as soon as possible. He also weighed in on the idea of residencies as a middle-ground option, saying he is “very ambivalent” about them because they raise the cost for fans to attend, though he conceded a residency would be “better than nothing” compared to no shows at all.

Rolling Stones Biopic and Film Deal

Separately from the touring question, the Rolling Stones have signed on with US production company 101 Studios for a film chronicling the band’s history. As part of that project, Mick Jagger has reportedly ruled out Harry Styles taking on the role of playing him, saying he wants an actor in his 20s to portray him instead.

More Info

• Rolling Stones’ Next Tour Faces Major Keith Richards Problem — Insider | mandatory.com
• Jo Wood cant imagine The Rolling Stones will tour again due to Keith Richards | Far Out Magazine
• Rolling Stones WON’T tour again as one band member refuses to hit the road | The Sun Showbiz