You don’t have to be a rock and roll fan to be familiar with the Rolling Stones, but if you know who Ronnie Wood is, you probably are. For readers in Tennessee and elsewhere who aren’t familiar with the musician’s career, Ronnie Wood is a guitarist, bassist, lap steel and pedal steel guitar player who joined the Rolling Stones in 1975 following stints with groups such as The Birds, The Jeff Beck Group and Faces.
In 2008, Ronnie and Jo Wood separated after more than 20 years of marriage. Then, in Feb. 2011, once property division issues and other differences had been settled, the divorce became final. Now, more than a year and a half later, Ronnie says he is “staggered” and “shocked” by his ex-wife’s plans to auction off several pieces of art and memorabilia estimated to be worth $300,000 to $500,000.
According to Wood, some of the items scheduled to be sold at the auction are “clearly his personal belongings” that his ex-wife has no right to sell. Wood has also objected to the characterization of the event as a “joint sale” and its implication that he has consented to it or is somehow involved.
Items reported to be on the auction block include custom painted Fender Stratocaster guitars, tour clothing, backstage passes from various Rolling Stones tours, portraits of Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan, antiques from the couple’s former estate in Surrey, England, as well as paintings and visual art pieces. A portion of the sale’s proceeds will benefit the charity MusiCares, which provides critical assistance to music people facing financial, medical and personal emergencies.
Responding to Ronnie Wood’s recent public statements, a spokeswoman for Jo Wood said the former model assumed ownership of all of the items included in the sale as part of the couple’s 2011 divorce settlement. “She’s had everything in storage for three years and can’t keep it any longer. Ronnie has been kept in the loop of the sale” but declined to participate.
It may still be unclear who’s right here but the story itself does offer a valuable lesson about property division. In short, think about how you’d feel if your ex sold certain items off after the divorce and be careful about the belongings you agree to part with because you won’t get to change the terms of your property settlement later.
Source: Huffington Post, “Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood ‘Staggered’ By Ex-Wife’s Auction Plans,” Paul Casciato, Sept. 26, 2012
