Rolling Stones Reunion Tour: Booze, Bad Backs and Burdens

In case you haven't heard the million or so jokes, the Rolling Stones are old. And after 50 years of rocking, the band's four members are focusing on their health in advance of their upcoming four shows in New Jersey and London, lest they give a subpar performance.

Guitarist Ron Wood is staying sober after repeated trips to rehab, and he's watching out for fellow axeman Keith Richards. "Keith is a pleasure to play with now," Wood told Rolling Stone. "It was a pain on the last tour toward the end, because he was really going for it on the drinking and denial. But now he's realized that he has gotta look after himself. I'm not going to preach to him. I will step in if I see any danger."

Ever the survivor, Keith says he enjoys some wine with his meals, and that's about it. "But if they come up with a great new drug, I'll be the first one on it, believe me," he says.

Mick Jagger, meanwhile, is staying in shape so he can still deliver on those snakelike dance moves. "Obviously you can't do the same things [onstage] you did when you were 19, so you have to do other things ... It's a bit of a burden, really, isn't it? I better be OK, at least."

Charlie Watts seems to be undergoing the most pain, thanks to hours spent drumming, and has a masseuse at all rehearsals for his back. "It takes a heavy toll playing them drums," Wood said. "It all goes to his back, you know? He suffers terribly."

When asked about the Stones' astronomical ticket prices -- the New Jersey gigs range from $114 to $813 -- Wood has a simple answer: "I'd pay it!"

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