The group has been on the road every year since launching its 50 & Counting tour, celebrating the Stones' 50th anniversary, during October 2012. Since then the group has played in the U.K., North America and Australia, the latter of which wrapped up Nov. 22 in Auckland, New Zealand. The Stones' July 2013 shows in London were filmed and recorded for Sweet Summer Sun: Live in Hyde Park, which was released the following November.
"We`re just mind-blown about how the music is coming out even better than ever," says Wood, "And I`m getting it easier nowadays, 'cause we're having an easier schedule than I used to have."
There's no word yet when the tour dates will be announced. They'll be the Stones' first North American dates in decades without saxophonist Bobby Keys, who died Dec. 2 after skipping the Australia and New Zealand dates due to his declining health.
Wood will be publishing his 1965 diary about the year he spent playing in his first band, the Birds, titled How Can It Be? A Rock & Roll Diary, in May via Britain's Genesis Publications, which replicates his handwritten pages and adds some new commentary and sketches. But he says a Faces reunion, even in tribute to the late keyboardist Ian McLagan, seems unlikely at the moment, though he and fellow surviving Faces Rod Stewart and Kenney Jones did play a couple of songs together at Stewart`s 70th birthday party last month in Los Angeles.
"We had a little drink for Mac and a little reunion," Wood says. "We got up and played 'Stay With Me' and 'Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller.' What else, I don't know. I've got such a busy schedule and I'm painting and playing away, so I shall wait to hear from his next of kin."
