Reuters Moscow
November 4th 2009 5:20pm
Ludmilla Saccharovic

VODKA SMIRNOFF, globally the most famous of all vodka brands on the international market, announced today that a new award has been created . The first Smirnoff Vodka was produced in the early 1860's by Piort Arsenyevitch Smirnov in a Russian town. He was also the first person to use charcoal filtration in his distilling process. During the Russian Revolution the distillery was confiscated by the state, but one of the founder'sע sons left Russia and moved to Paris. Here he met an American businessman who thought that perhaps the Russian Vodka would find a market in the United States. In March of 1934 Smirnoff Vodka was introduced to the United States. Smirnoff Vodka is still owned and distributed by Heublein, and produced by Ste Pierre Smirnoff.

The award, consisting of a gold-plated Smirnoff bottle and a cheque over 100000 Rubles, to be spent at any rehabilitation centre of the winner's choice, will be presented on 10th November 2009 for the first time in Moscow . This year's winner, the famous Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, was chosen by an international panel of celebrities and media glitterati. The five finalists in this competition were invited to Moscow, Ronnie Wood being the only one who could still stand and hold on to his glass after downing three entire bottles. His current live-in-lover Ekaterina didn't exactly refuse to comment on the matter, but was too incoherent to give an interview to Reuters.


 

Ronnie + Rehab = A tour is coming (and the sponsor will be...)

Here's Ronnie singing, only slightly smirnoffed....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0T_lMjPmOo

And here are a few memorable words: Hit us with your quotations, Ronnie!

People often get the wrong impression of Mick. The clever businessman is just one side of Mick. The other side is the same as the rest of us, a true rocker!
Ron Wood

The last show we played, I was straight as a die. It did feel weird not to be hiding behind alcohol or dope, but being focused was... good.
Ron Wood

There's a basic rule which runs through all kinds of music, kind of an unwritten rule. I don't know what it is. But I've got it.
Ron Wood

They say you can smoke 400 cigs a day and drink 20 cups of coffee, but you can't have a line or a drink again.
Ron Wood

We got touring with the Stones, and people were trying to keep up with Keith. He's like a human machine with a constitution of iron, and they all thought they could do the same.
Ron Wood

We're great, Jo and me. We're pals, and I guess sex has a lot to do with it. She's also brilliant at clearing a room. So protective, so devoted. I can't believe how much she loves me.
Ron Wood

What can I say, I'm an alcoholic. It's what I do.
Ron Wood

When I first saw Jo, I said boom, that was it, because I'm a one-woman man.
Ron Wood

When I first started all this, it was mostly music fans that came along, Stones fans. But now, I'm being taken seriously. I've got highfalutin' art collectors and everything!
Ron Wood

When I'm left on my own I'm my own worst enemy.
Ron Wood

With every gig we have to prove ourselves better than the night before.
Ron Wood

You don't make solo albums to have hits.
Ron Wood

All of us can't wait to get out there whatever way.
Ron Wood

Having loved the Stones all the time I was growing up, I wasn't about to see them go and split up. It got very close to it in the 80s, when Mick thought that Keith hated him and vice versa.
Ron Wood

I always want to rock.
Ron Wood

I can't be left unsupervised.
Ron Wood

I go off into Dublin and two days later I'm spotted walking by the Liffey with a whole bunch of new friends.
Ron Wood

I heard this massive thud. I spun around, and there Keith was, on the ground. He'd cut his gums up on impact, he was very bloody, and clutching his head. I think it was a kind of wake-up call for him.
Ron Wood

I just think my body can't handle it any more. I did try a little drink a while back, and I was actually physically ill. I went into an immediate depression, and felt awful, just dreadful. So that's it. I'm over it now.
Ron Wood

I like it when journalists are nice to me, and it's happening more and more.
Ron Wood

I love to go to Ireland just to relax.
Ron Wood

I'm a Gemini, so I have a great time with the other guy.
Ron Wood

I'm terrible with money, absolutely awful. I'm always losing it.
Ron Wood

I've got an article where my mum says that I used to run home from school to watch the Stones on TV. Right from when I was at college I wanted to be in that band.
Ron Wood

In my family, they were all big boozers.
Ron Wood

It's taken folk a while to come around, hasn't it? Even the boys in the band weren't too sure about the whole art thing. They just wanted me to concentrate on the music. But they respect it now.
Ron Wood

Jo left me a few months ago for 10 days. I get this note: I'll come back when the real Ronnie comes back.
Ron Wood

Let's face it: I paint well. I know it, you know it. There's no arguing really, is there?
Ron Wood

Mick has expressed an interest in coming to the gallery tonight because he's seen me behaving myself lately. He is being much more supportive, which is nice.
Ron Wood

Mick says, Would you join the band? I say to him, Mick, you know I'd be there in a New York minute.
Ron Wood

My dad lived till he was 78, my mum was in her 80s, and I've got two uncles who are in their 90s now.
Ron Wood

My real self is probably more creative and more frightening than any sort of drink or drug-induced state.
Ron Wood

Jo...this is way too much!!!

Thanks so much for the good laugh!

Well deserved!

The North American Indians used to call whiskey "Fire water" every time I drank Vodka (straight without any mix) it always reminded me of that, in that it's got no taste except alcohol, fire water for sure.

Factory Girl wrote on Nov 5^th, 2009 at 7:05am:



Your dad's first name was 'Girl' ??

Gazza wrote on Nov 5^th, 2009 at 3:07pm:


"Factory Girl" is my first "name".  My dad's name was Alexander.

Starbuck wrote on Nov 5^th, 2009 at 5:22pm:


oh. my. god.

hilarious!  (is jo on the market? cleaning and sex....sounds like a dream woman.)






I'm sorry to be smashing your hopes like this, Starbuck, but sadly I'm already taken.....
Jo

Riffhard wrote on Nov 5^th, 2009 at 3:49pm:



Christ. That was brutal. I'd never seen that before. Cant believe he was allowed to go out in public in that condition, let alone attempt to perform.

If some homeless guy was singing like that on the street corner, you'd cross the road - you'd only throw him a few pence if he had a cute dog with him.

Gazza wrote on Nov 6^th, 2009 at 6:48pm:


I could only watch the first minute or so-..

Painful sums it up..

and even with a cute dog, I wouldn't leave him a few pence...