Ronnie Wood hints Rolling Stones will tour in “October

The Rolling Stones are set to tour later this year after Ronnie Wood revealed he is “keeping October/November free”.

The band have long been rumoured to be playing live again this year to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Earlier this year, it appeared they would be delaying the celebrations until 2013 after guitarist Keith Richards suggested the band weren’t ready to go back on the road yet.

However, speaking earlier this week, Wood hinted the Stones could tour before the end of the year, telling The Sun:

“It looks like we are going to be doing more stuff. I am keeping October/November free, that’s what I’ve been told. I’m just awaiting more information.”

However, the guitarist scotched suggestions the band would be recording new material, adding: “New ones? Are you joking? We are familiarising ourselves with our back catalogue and have only scratched the surface.”

In April, Wood had to apologise to his bandmates after he was quoted as saying that the band will start recording new material later that month.

The Rolling Stones will release a new photo album to mark 50 years since their first ever gig this year. The tome – which is titled The Rolling Stones: 50 – will feature 700 shots and words from the band on their history, and will hit UK bookshelves on July 12.