The Last Soul Man Standing won’t let that happen to him. For all his frailties, he has too much vim and vigour. He’s touring the world from this month, starting in Japan. He seems to suggest that Damon Albarn has invited him to perform with Blur. And, he says, there’s another album due, comprising unused songs from the Bravest Man… sessions (although his label think he’s actually referring to a new, “deluxe” version of the original album, which was released last month).
But now it’s time for another anecdote, this one courtesy of another Stones pal, Ronnie Wood. “When Rod Stewart came to the States with the Faces, he was so afraid that he sung in the wings, where you couldn’t see him. Cos all he knew was Sam Cooke songs – and Sam Cooke is the king over there. So, Ronnie said, ‘They never knew our lead singer was Rod Stewart!’ But you look at Rod, he’s sure got a lot of confidence now – he can be Sam Cooke or anybody he wants to be… And I was sitting there listening to this, same way you’re listening now,” smiles Bobby Womack. “And I thought: shit, everybody’s got a story. Everybody’s got a story,” he repeats, whispering now.