Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Ron Wood will have a formal sit down in the next few weeks to talk about whether or not the troubled guitarist is fit enough to tour with the band. Wood has been seen as a liability due to his violent outbursts against former 20-year-old lover Ekaterina Ivanova, his recent divorce from longtime wife Jo, and his chronic alcoholism.

A source told Britain's Daily Express, "Mick and Ronnie will talk things through in the New Year. They are old friends and Mick will obviously do everything he can to help him. But when it comes to the Stones, Mick has a real eye for detail and always ensures things run like clockwork. He'll need to be convinced that Ronnie is still up to the job. Hopefully everything will work out, as it would break Ronnie's heart if the Stones had to perform without him."

A representative for Jagger was quoted as saying: "Mick has been very supportive of Ronnie over the holidays."

Wood's former Faces bandmate and Stones keyboardist Ian MacLagan says that Wood is in better shape than people give him credit for: "Ronnie's doing great -- he's in great shape, trust me. I've seen him a bunch of times in the last six months, and he's in good spirits and he's taking care. Y'know, he slips off the wagon every now and again. He's an alcoholic, for Christ-sake. But at least when he stops, he stops 'cause he wants to. Y'know, it's not the Stones telling him he can't drink now. He stopped and he's been doing good. He slips, but he's finding his grace. And it's struggle, y'know? And he's the loveliest man on the planet. He's trying really hard."

The Stones wrapped their two-year 147-date A Bigger Bang tour on September 23rd, 2007 in Halifax, Canada. There has been no formal announcement about the heavily rumored 2010 Stones tour.