Wild horses won't stop the Stones' Kiwi celebration

Mick Jagger. Photo / Supplied

Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ron Wood will celebrate the Rolling Stones' 50th anniversary in New Zealand this weekend.

They're not jetting in for a surprise gig, though. The avid Kiwi music fans each happen to share a name with members of the evergreen band.

The Bay of Plenty's Keith Richards, 52, is a panelbeater. But the dad-of-two, from Athenree, likes to play the rock star at weekends, driving around in his flash, 1964 Buick convertible.

"To mark their 50th, I'll be cranking up the Buick and going for a spin with the band's hits blaring from the stereo."

Charlie Watts, 49, from Tai Tapu can't play the drums. But as a geologist, he knows a thing or two about rock.

"All my life I have had to put up with people asking me how my drumming is going," he said. "Even my middle name, Robert, is the same as Charlie's is from the Stones."

Titirangi's Ron Wood is the same age as his guitar hero namesake.

But the 65-year-old aircraft engineer has a secret - he's actually a big fan of the Stones' 1960s rivals the Beatles.

"I won't be playing the Stones' music too loud this weekend though, because I have the flu."

The only Stone missing from the Kiwi band line-up is lead singer Mick Jagger.

Are you New Zealand's answer to Mick Jagger? Contact russell.blackstock@hos.co.nz.