At 80, Rod Stewart finally opens up about his decades-long, tumultuous friendship with Ronnie Wood, revealing behind-the-scenes conflicts, reconciliations, and the personal struggles that shaped their music, leaving fans both stunned and deeply moved by the raw honesty of rock legends confronting their shared past.

In a rare and candid interview broadcast from his London home last Thursday evening, Rod Stewart, now 80, finally opened up about his tumultuous decades-long relationship with fellow Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, shedding light on the personal struggles, near-breakdowns, and unspoken tensions that have long fueled rumors in the rock world.

Speaking with a voice still roughened by years on the road but carrying a surprising warmth, Stewart recounted the highs and lows of a friendship forged in the wildest days of British rock, a bond tested by fame, fortune, and the relentless scrutiny of fans and media alike.

“It’s complicated,” Stewart confessed, the words weighed with decades of reflection.

“Ronnie and I, we’ve had our fights, our silences, moments where I questioned everything about the path we were on.

But at the end of the day, it’s music, friendship, and history that tie us together.

” Stewart detailed a particularly fraught period in the mid-1980s when tensions reached a peak during a Stones tour in the United States.

According to Stewart, disagreements over creative decisions, financial disputes, and a series of personal misunderstandings led to weeks of minimal contact, leaving both men grappling with whether their friendship could survive.

Adding texture to the story, Stewart recalled one confrontation backstage at Madison Square Garden in 1985.

“I remember him glaring at me across the stage, and I thought, ‘This is it, we’re done.

’ But then we played that night, and something clicked—the music reminded us why we started in the first place.

” It was a rare glimpse behind the curtain, revealing how art and performance often acted as both mediator and mirror to their volatile friendship.

Stewart also disclosed that, contrary to decades of tabloid speculation about rivalries and betrayals, many of the publicized feuds were exaggerated, fueled by journalists eager to sell a narrative of rock ‘n’ roll conflict.

“People love the drama,” he said wryly, “but a lot of it never actually happened.”

Beyond the personal anecdotes, Stewart offered insight into how aging and life experience reshaped his perspective on friendship and loyalty.

“When you’re young, ego drives everything—you fight, you compete, you misunderstand—but time softens that.

At 80, I realize the fights, the silences, even the pain… it all became part of our story, part of the music we made.

” He also acknowledged Wood’s own struggles with health and personal challenges, noting that their shared experiences with addiction, recovery, and the pressures of fame added layers of complexity to their bond.

Fans and music historians are already dissecting Stewart’s revelations, noting how they provide a rare firsthand account of life behind the scenes in one of rock’s most enduring eras.

Social media erupted within hours of the interview, with fans praising Stewart’s honesty and his ability to balance nostalgia, accountability, and humor.

Clips from the interview, particularly his recounting of heated backstage confrontations softened by impromptu jam sessions, have gone viral, reigniting interest in the intertwined careers of Stewart and Wood and prompting renewed speculation about untold stories from the road.

The interview also sparked conversations about the pressures of maintaining long-term creative partnerships in the public eye.

Experts note that Stewart’s reflections highlight the fragility of personal bonds in high-pressure industries, the importance of reconciliation, and the human stories behind legendary performances.

Rod Stewart’s candidness, paired with his signature wit and charm, transforms what could have been a mere celebrity reminiscence into a compelling narrative about friendship, resilience, and the enduring power of music.

As the interview concluded, Stewart offered a final, reflective note: “Ronnie and I are still here, still making music, still laughing about the ridiculous things we’ve done.

That’s the truth.

That’s the story.

And it’s been worth every note, every fight, every silence.”

For fans of classic rock, this marks a historic moment—an 80-year-old icon finally peeling back the layers of his life, revealing both the frailty and the brilliance behind decades of legendary music-making.

Rod Stewart’s story isn’t just about friendship with Ronnie Wood; it’s about the human journey behind the myth, the music, and the legend.