How 'Dance (Pt. 1)' Redefined Ronnie Wood’s Place in the Rolling Stones
When you think of the Rolling Stones, names like Mick Jagger and Keith Richards usually hog the spotlight. But Ronnie Wood, who joined the band in the mid-70s, managed to pull off something remarkable with one Rolling Stones track that people still talk about: 'Dance (Pt. 1)'.
The 1980s weren't the easiest years for classic rockers. Disco was everywhere, and diehard Stones fans were nervous about their favorite band getting swept away by a trend. Yet, out of that scene came 'Dance (Pt. 1)'—an upbeat, swagger-filled track Wood claims as his absolute favorite from their massive catalog. Why? Because for the first time, he was out front, pushing a sound all his own right into the Rolling Stones DNA.
The Struggle for Creative Space and a Disco Gamble
When Ronnie Wood first slipped into the Stones’ lineup in 1975, he was still the new guy: eager, talented, but a bit cautious. 'Emotional Rescue', their 1980 album, would change that. Rather than just playing along with what Mick and Keith wanted, Wood brought 'Dance (Pt. 1)' to the group with a clear vision—and, for once, didn’t let go.
- He wrote the central groove and the playful bass line that defined the track’s sound.
- Wood’s guitar licks aren’t just backdrop here—they’re pivotal, driving the track’s energy from start to finish.
- The song’s disco flavor wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea at first. Backlash from hardcore fans was real, but Wood stuck to his guns, convinced the song would catch on.
This moment, as Wood puts it, was a personal milestone. “It was a coming-of-age moment for me,” he recalled in one interview, pointing out he finally felt like a real stakeholder in the band, not just a sideman. His sense of relief was obvious—he’d picked his own track and pushed it through, and now fans dance to it decades later.
Today, 'Dance (Pt. 1)' stands as more than just a disco dalliance. It’s a marker for Wood’s grit and creative confidence. Even as the Stones toyed with rhythms that would throw off their bluesy reputation, Wood helped them sound fresh and unpredictable. That risk—from the bass to the sly guitar hooks—paid off in the long run, propelling the Stones into new territory and cementing Wood’s spot as a driving force behind their evolving sound.
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