Photos Courtesy Ron Wood Com  / Jeff Beck Com

“I’m a Gemini, so I have a great time with the other guy!”

He is rightfully acknowledged as one of rock’s premiere slide guitarists with a gregarious personality to match his inimitable musical prowess.

However if Ronald David Wood had opted to set aside his signature Zemaitis guitars and other assorted six-strings full-time, he’d be known as a world-class rock bassist as evidenced by his work with the Jeff Beck Group (Truth, Beck Ola), and select tracks with his pal Rod Stewart (An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down … aka The Rod Stewart Album, Gasoline Alley, Every Picture Tells a Story, Never A Dull Moment), and from various cuts throughout Faces and Stones slabs.

Woody never plays in the pocket, never quite outlines the changes in the traditional sense, and never renders a conventional bass line!

And when Woody has his own albums to do, he enlists the best players to support him including Flea, Darryl Jones, Willie Weeks, Shaun Solomon, Doug Wimbish, Jimmy Haslip, Jay Davis, Pops Popwell, and part-timer Keith Richards. 

Ron Wood Sound & Vision…(KNOWYOURBASSPLAYER Spotify Playlist) 

The Jeff Beck Group:  

“Plynth” https://youtu.be/cHdd4PVJYdo

“Shapes of Things” https://youtu.be/pcsrASSQs2o

“Rock My Plimsoul” https://youtu.be/yWcgV4ZpW9Q

Rod Stewart:

“Street Fighting Man”  https://youtu.be/2kdboWc-DwY

“An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down”   https://youtu.be/qFt6RSJOtUU

“Maggie May” https://youtu.be/EOl7dh7a-6g

The Faces: “Three Button Hand Me Down” https://youtu.be/RF8O8uL4unI

Rolling Stones: “Emotional Rescue” https://youtu.be/U4dSIZ5QS7I

A session giant who waxed seminal sides in the UK and LA, this Kingston, Jamaica born bassist brought his reverence of Motown and reggae to rockers and fusion artists alike.

Though Phil Chen missed the opportunity to assume Ronnie Lane’s position with The Faces in 1973 – he garnered attention aplenty anchoring The Butts Band – which featured ex-Doors Robbie Kreiger and John Densmore.

A staunch Fender Precision / Jazz devotee, Phil’s economic approach was the perfect choice to anchor Jeff Beck’s historic Blow By Blow (1975) album.

When Rod the Mod opted for Hollywood, Phil and drummer Carmine Appice made the most of Stewart’s pop inclinations, blending rock, funk, disco, and blues on several chart topping sides.

Chen’s impressive resume also includes sessions / gigs with Brian May’s Star Fleet Project, Jackson Browne, Pete Townshend, Eurythmics, John Lee Hooker, Dave Edmunds, and Joan Armatrading, among, many, many others.

Phil Chen’s home country honored the bassist in 2014 with the Order of Distinction for his musical accomplishments.

Phil Chen Sound & Vision….

Phil with The Butts Band on the Old Grey Whistle Test https://youtu.be/It0j_898rR0

Jeff Beck “Constipated Duck” https://youtu.be/4INHP7WlN1M

Rod Stewart “Hot Legs” – short, simple, and sweet!  https://youtu.be/AHcjjxYbgNM

“This Old Heart of Mine” live with The Rod Stewart Band: https://youtu.be/W8cokK7GbjE

Joan Armatrading “Travel So Far” https://youtu.be/ovMYVD_W6M4

Eurythmics “The Last Time” https://youtu.be/YhwX41CDUMc

Dion “King of The New York City Streets” https://youtu.be/z5jyoz0h6GU

Dig this insightful and humorous interview – courtesy of Lauren Scheff wherein he offers his strong opinions on light gauge “cheese cutter” bass strings! https://youtu.be/j8aN168gRfc

Affectionately referred to as “Plonk” by his bandmates for reasons not appropriate to discuss on this forum, the late great Ronnie Lane’s career, which spanned from 1965 until his passing in 1997, was an amazing journey which traversed pop, folk, rhythm and blues, soul and permutations thereof.

Though he is more renowned for his songwriting with Steve Marriott and the Small Faces, and later with The Faces (“Glad and Sorry,” “Debris,” “Stone”) Mr. Lane was a remarkably fluid bassist who served as a pocket player and melodic foil – often within the same composition.

Ronnie on fretless on “Debris” https://youtu.be/cbTDVTwPNZw

Slim Chance “How Come” https://youtu.be/z4U2Fcz_iKw

Small Faces: “Tin Soldier” with PP Arnold: https://youtu.be/6vWTtx_PxPo

Ronnie’s solo career leading Slim Chance was a groundbreaking meld of traditional English folk and rock which inspired generations on both sides of the Atlantic.  

Lane’s collaborative album with Pete Townshend Rough Mix (1977) was among the most overlooked gems of the 1970s. 

When he was stricken with multiple sclerosis in 1983 – Mr. Lane assembled the historic Ronnie Lane Appeal for ARMS (Action into Research for Multiple Sclerosis) Charity Concerts in the UK and US which featured his mates Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Steve Winwood, Andy Fairweather-Low, Paul Rodgers, Joe Cocker, Ray Cooper, Chris Stainton, Bill Wyman, Kenny Jones, and Charlie Watts among others.

Though diminutive in physical stature, Mr. Lane was a giant of classic rock – and kept gigging to the very end despite his debilitating disease.