Ronnie Wood’s 2017 Lung Cancer Diagnosis Made Him Quit Smoking and Keep Touring Harder

The most striking thing about Ronnie Wood’s 2017 lung cancer scare isn’t that he quit smoking—it’s that he didn’t slow down. After doctors removed a small tumor from his left lung, Wood went cold turkey on a lifelong cigarette habit and essentially told the band, “Let’s play more.” He later admitted the diagnosis scared him into realizing he was mortal, but rather than retire, he threw himself into Rolling Stones tours and solo records with fresh urgency.

Wood had been a heavy smoker since his teens, sometimes going through three packs a day. During the surgery recovery, he said the hospital staff gave him nicotine patches, but he never lit another cigarette after leaving. In interviews afterward, he claimed the lack of smoking gave him better stamina for the Stones’ grueling live shows. At 70, he’s now outlived his father (who died of lung cancer at 67) and seems to treat every tour as a bonus round.

Perhaps the most revealing change was in his attitude toward recording. Before the diagnosis, Wood often described himself as a “lazy” songwriter. After cancer, he completed his first solo album in over a decade—I Feel Like Playing (released in 2021, though recorded pre-pandemic)—and started co-writing with younger artists. He also spoke openly about his vulnerability, saying the tumor forced him to stop taking anything for granted.