Ronnie Wood’s Temporary Departure During 'Dirty Work' and the Guitarist Who Filled In

By the mid-1980s, the Stones’ lineup had been stable for a decade, but tensions were running high—especially between Jagger and Richards. Ronnie Wood was also struggling with alcohol and personal issues, which led him to step away from the band for several months during the Dirty Work sessions in 1985.

Wood’s absence meant the band needed another guitarist for some tracks. Jimmy Page—who had jammed with the Stones before and was a friend of Richards—stepped in. Page played on two songs: the album’s lead single “One Hit (To the Body)” and the rough-edged “Fight.” His distinctive slide and riff work gave those tracks a rawer, more aggressive feel that fit the album’s chippy mood.

Wood eventually returned to finish the album, but his departure (and the Jagger-Richards feud) cast a long shadow. Dirty Work ended up sounding like a band pulling in different directions, with Page’s contributions standing out as a kind of outsider energy dropped into a tense room.