Ronnie Wood’s 2019 Hip Replacement vs. Charlie Watts’ – Recovery and Stage Adjustments

Ronnie Wood went under the knife for a total hip replacement in 2019 after decades of wear from stage antics, heavy guitar straps, and his famously acrobatic style. The surgery was elective but necessary—the cartilage in his right hip had basically ground away, leaving bone-on-bone pain that made even walking difficult. By the time the Stones hit the road for the 2021 No Filter tour, Wood was back on stage, but he’d added a stool to his setup for certain songs and started playing with a lighter, less mobile stance. He also began draping his guitar strap over both shoulders (a “double strap” trick) to distribute weight and take pressure off the hip.

Charlie Watts had his own hip replacement back in