Rolling Stones Swap Sex, Drugs for Game of Thrones, Backgammon

The Rolling Stones have largely forsaken their rock n roll lifestyle for more sedentary pleasures like backgammon, jigsaw puzzles and TV box sets.

So admits guitarist Ronnie Wood, 67, in a Daily Telegraph interview.

On the band’s last tour, Wood and his wife Sally organised a backgammon tournament in which all the band participated. The tournament will resume when their next tour begins in October.

Backgammon isn’t their only vice. The Stones are now also addicted to box sets which they use to distract themselves from jet lag.

“You wake up every night about 9pm, just at the time when you would be going on stage. So now, instead, we watch 19 murder mysteries in a row. We’re on Above Suspicion at the moment.”

Their other favourites include British series Broadchurch and Above Suspicion, as well as Fargo and the lesbian prison drama Orange is the New Black.

“We watch loads of box sets on the road, too. Even with Jagger I go, “Let’s go and watch House of Cards.” And he told us about Game of Thrones. We had to send someone out at four in the morning when we were in Shanghai to get us the next series. Breaking Bad is the best.”

Such, indeed, is the band’s enthusiasm for Breaking Bad that when Aaron Paul (who played Jesse Pinkman in the show) paid them a backstage visit they came over uncharacteristically starstruck.

“Keith was going: ‘What are you doing here?’ and Patti [Keith’s wife] was like: “Oh my God, get out of the way. It’s Aaron.”