Ronnie Wood ''always knew'' he'd be in the Rolling Stones.

The 67-year-old rocker joined the group in 1975 after stints performing with The Birds, The Faces and the Jeff Beck Group and sees the fulfilment of his ambition as proof anyone can achieve their dreams if they work hard.

He said: ''I always knew, even when I was in The Birds, that I was going to be in the Rolling Stones.

''I was going to be in that band one way or another and I would broadcast the fact.

''I thought it looked like a good job and it turned out that it is.

''It goes to show you can set your sights on something and get it, if you think big and put in the work.''

Ronnie ''feels sorry'' for modern musicians who aspire to instant success because he feels the ''grind'' of performing hundreds of small shows is a great experience.

He told NME magazine: ''There's a lot to be said for the grind - going up and down the country in a van, playing gig after gig after gig.

''I feel sorry for bands now that aren't exposed to that way of life.

''For so many, they think it's either straight on in front of millions of people or they're destined to be forgotten but there is another way; it involves cutting your teeth the hard way and it can be a slog, but it can be done.

''Rehearsing in a garage, getting in the gig wagon and playing hundreds of shows, that's what it's all about. More young bands should try it.''