The Rolling Stones To Tour Without Ronnie Wood

The Rolling Stones will tour next year with or without Ronnie Wood. Frontman Sir Mick Jagger is determined to embark on a European "mini tour" even if guitarist Ronnie - who is currently in rehab following his well-publicized alcohol binge with 20-year-old Russian waitress Ekaterina Ivanova - is not fit to perform.

A source said: "Mick officially becomes a pensioner when he turns 65 at the end of July and Keith Richards at the end of the year, and I think Mick wants to get another tour under his belt in case it gets to the point where he can't do any more."

"Mick is still dead set on going on tour and has even said that they will do the shows without Ronnie if it comes to it."

Mick and the rest of the band are stunned at Ronnie's recent behaviour - which saw the rocker flee to his hideaway in County Kildare, Ireland, with Ekaterina, leaving his wife of 23 years, Jo, distraught - because they believed his marriage was happy.

The source added to Britain's Daily Express newspaper: "Ronnie has always had his drink and drug problems but his marriage was rock solid. Jo kept him together.

"What's happening now is just something else and Mick and everyone can't quite believe it."

The band hopes the tour will give Ronnie a reason to get better and save his marriage.