Nine Months of Silence: The Rolling Stones Call That Tested the Brotherhood Between Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood

Few friendships in rock history have been as enduring—or as tested—as that of Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. From their riotous early days in The Jeff Beck Group to their glory years with The Faces, the two musicians built more than a band; they built a brotherhood. But in 1975, that bond fractured when Wood got the call that would change his life—and, for a time, cost him his closest friend.

The Call That Changed Everything

By the mid-1970s, The Faces—Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan, Kenney Jones, and Ronnie Lane—were already teetering on the edge of collapse. Stewart’s solo career had taken off spectacularly, leaving less time for the band that had launched him to fame. Meanwhile, Ronnie Wood had become one of the most in-demand guitarists in rock, admired for his fluid style and unmistakable swagger.

Then came the fateful invitation: The Rolling Stones, reeling from the departure of guitarist Mick Taylor, asked Wood to join them for their 1975 American tour. What was initially described as a temporary “loan” was, as everyone soon realized, the start of a new chapter for Wood—and the end of The Faces as they knew it.

For Stewart, the move came as a blow. Though he, too, was riding high as a solo star, the idea of losing his longtime collaborator and friend without what he felt was a proper conversation reportedly hurt deeply. The two men, who had been musical partners since 1968 and co-wrote classics like “Gasoline Alley” and “Stay With Me,” suddenly stopped speaking.

And so began nine months of silence—a period of hurt feelings, unspoken words, and one of the most famous friendship rifts in British rock.

“Spoken to Any Pros?” – The Letter That Broke the Silence

The standoff ended not with a phone call, but with a pen and paper. Stewart, known for his flair both on and off stage, eventually wrote a four-page handwritten letter to Wood.

In it, he reportedly mixed humor, regret, and heartfelt reflection. According to both men’s later recollections, the letter included the now-famous quip:

“Spoken to any pros?”

The tongue-in-cheek line was Stewart’s playful jab at Wood’s new life among “the pros” of rock’s highest tier—The Rolling Stones. But beneath the humor lay sincerity. Stewart’s letter expressed remorse for his silence, nostalgia for their shared past, and an acknowledgment that their friendship mattered more than band politics or bruised egos.

The gesture worked. Wood, touched by Stewart’s words, reconnected with his old friend, and the two reconciled soon after.

From Rift to Reunion

Though the end of The Faces was inevitable, the end of Stewart and Wood’s friendship was not. In the decades since, their bond has endured every twist of fame and fortune.

• 1975: Ronnie Wood officially joined The Rolling Stones, appearing on the album “Black and Blue” (1976).
• 2012: Rod Stewart served as Best Man at Wood’s wedding to Sally Humphreys—a full-circle moment that confirmed the strength of their friendship.
• 2019: Both men revealed they had battled cancer (Stewart with prostate cancer, Wood with lung cancer). Their shared openness during this time highlighted not just their resilience, but their lasting trust and affection.

They’ve reunited numerous times over the years for Faces performances, including a memorable 2015 charity gig for the Prostate Project and appearances at the BRIT Awards. Each time, their camaraderie has been as evident as ever—proof that their bond transcends the highs and lows of rock and roll.

Brotherhood Beyond the Stage

The nine-month silence of 1975 remains a defining story in the friendship between Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood—not for the distance it created, but for how it was ultimately bridged. The four-page letter stands as a testament to humility, forgiveness, and the kind of brotherhood that can withstand fame, ego, and time itself.

Nearly fifty years later, the two remain as close as ever—living proof that, in rock and in life, some partnerships are too strong to fade, even after the longest silence.