Ronnie Wood seems to be getting too wild for the Rolling Stones: once again, the rumor mill is buzzing about the band’s search for a replacement for the guitarist. This time, the move is inspired by Wood’s drinking problems and his alleged assault on his 21-year-old ex-girlfriend, Ekaterina Ivanova, which have apparently “been wearing on the band as they consider a 2010 tour.” Mick Jagger is allegedly looking for a new guitarist, as he thinks that Wood has become unreliable after leaving his wife of 23 years for Ivanova. Wood’s former wife apparently served as a conduit between Wood and his other bandmates.
“It’s one thing to say ‘Let’s have the Stones frightening the grannies, let’s all be debauched and wild,’ but it’s just not acceptable to have one seen choking his girlfriend,” a “friend” of the band told the Daily Mail. “There are two things you can’t be seen to do, which is hit women and get involved with under-age girls. Thanks to Ronnie and Bill Wyman [who seduced and went on to marry 13-year-old Mandy Smith], Mick has had a full house now.” Moreover, Wood’s “debauched lifestyle” could make it harder for the band to secure insurance for a tour, making him a “financial gamble.”
