Faces (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Faces | ||
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 Faces, left to right: Ian McLagan, Ron Wood, Ronnie Lane, Rod Stewart, Kenny Jones
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| Background information | ||
| Origin |  England |
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| Genre(s) | Rock 'n' Roll Rhythm and Blues Hard Rock Blues Rock |
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| Years active | 1969—1975 | |
| Label(s) | Warner Bros. | |
| Associated acts |
The Small Faces | |
| Website | www.the-faces.com | |
| Members | ||
| Rod Stewart Ron Wood Ronnie Lane Ian McLagan Kenny Jones |
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The Faces were a rock 'n' roll band formed in 1969 from the remaining members of The Small Faces after Steve Marriott left to form Humble Pie.
Ron Wood (guitar) and Rod Stewart (vocals) (both from The Jeff Beck Group) joined former Small Faces members Ronnie Lane (bass), Ian McLagan (keyboards) and Kenny Jones, (drums) to complete the line-up. They performed through the early 1970s, before Rod Stewart moved on to a solo career and Ronnie Wood joined The Rolling Stones.
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[edit] History
With the addition of Rod Stewart (5'8") and Ron Wood (5'9") the "small" part of the original band name was dropped, and they continued as the Faces. Still, their first album was released in the U.S. under the name "Small Faces" due to a "mistake" by their record company.
Their most successful songs included "Had Me a Real Good Time", their breakthrough UK hit "Stay with Me", "Cindy Incidentally", and "Pool Hall Richard". As Rod Stewart's solo career became more successful than that of the group, the band became overshadowed by their lead singer. A disillusioned Ronnie Lane left the band in 1973, replaced by Tetsu Yamauchi (who had replaced Andy Fraser in Free). Released at about the time Lane left, Faces' final studio album was Ooh La La, about which Stewart was very scathing in the musical press on its release, much to the anger of the others.
A live album early the following year, Coast to Coast: Overture and Beginners, was criticised by reviewers for being poorly recorded. They recorded a few tracks for another studio album, but had lost enthusiasm and their final release as a group was the late 1974 UK Top 20 hit "You Can Make Me Dance, Sing, or Anything". In 1975 Wood began working with the Rolling Stones, which brought differences between Stewart and the others to a head, and in December the band announced that they were splitting.
[edit] Post-Faces
All members had varied post-band careers. Wood joined the Rolling Stones as a full member; Lane formed Slim Chance and had a modest solo career that ended prematurely when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Lane also worked on an album with Who guitarist Pete Townshend. Jones joined The Who after the death of Keith Moon; McLagan was considered by Pete Townshend to join the Who as well, but was touring with the Rolling Stones at the time.[1] He married Keith Moon's ex-wife Kim, moved to America, formed the Bump Band [2] (which tours and records to this day), and became a successful session musician; and Stewart's solo career was massively successful. There was also a Small Faces reunion in the late 1970's (without Ronnie Lane) that resulted in two albums. Ronnie Lane and Steve Marriot did however both work on the Majik Mijits album.
[edit] Influence on music
Although they enjoyed modest European success compared to contemporaries such as The Who and The Rolling Stones, the Faces have had considerable influence on latter-day rock revivalists. Their good-natured, back-to-basics (and frequently liquor-laden) live performances and studio albums connect them with such bands as the New York Dolls and The Damned, as well as Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols.
As well as punk rock related bands, various acts playing different kinds of music, ranging from The Replacements and The Quireboys to The Black Crowes and, groups such as The Charlatans, BRMC, Primal Scream, Aerosmith, Pearl Jam, Whiteout and Stereophonics have all taken influence from the Faces in some way.
[edit] Band members playing together after break-up
The Faces reformed for the encore of Rod Stewart's Wembley Stadium concert in 1986. Ronnie Lane was on stage to sing in his wheelchair but was unable to play bass so Bill Wyman filled in for him. The same lineup reunited once more (minus Ronnie Lane) in 1993 when Rod Stewart was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award at the Brit Awards. Another reunion occurred in 1996 shortly before Ronnie Lane's death. At this concert, the band disscussed playing to raise money for the ailing Lane. No further reunions have taken place to date. Ronnie Lane made his final live performance in 1992 at a Ronnie Wood show with Ian Mclagan on keyboards.
[edit] Recent times
In 2004 Rhino released a 4-disc box set featuring some of the band's most popular tracks as well as several previously unreleased songs. In the accompanying booklet the reason for Ronnie Lane's departure is not Rod Stewart's solo success, but the lack of opportunity to take lead vocals on the band's songs (pg 46).
During 2004 and early 2005 there were several near reunions but these never featured more than three surviving members on stage at any time. In May 2004 Kenney Jones and Ronnie Wood joined Ian Maclagan on stage at his show at The Mean Fiddler in London. Ronnie Wood and Ian Maclagan joined Rod Stewart at the Hollywood Bowl for one song (although Ronnie joined Rod for a faces set in the show). In March 2005 Ian Maclagan joined Ronnie Wood's band for a show featuring Kenney Jones on drums for the final encore. Rod Stewart had been lined up to join them but pulled out due to his girlfriend being unwell. In 2004 Ronnie Wood joined Rod Stewart on stage at several gigs including New York's Madison Square Gardens, the Hollywood Bowl, The Royal Albert Hall and a street performance in London for an audience of 80,000.
[edit] Discography
| Album Cover | Title | Date of Release | UK Chart Position | US Chart Position |
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First Step | 1970 | ??? | #119 |
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Long Player | 1971 | #31 | #29 |
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A Nod Is as Good as a Wink...To a Blind Horse | 1971 | #2 | #6 |
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Ooh La La | 1973 | #1 | #21 |
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Coast to Coast: Overture and Beginners (Official live album) |
1974 | ??? | #63 |
[edit] Compilations
- Snakes And Ladders / The Best of Faces (best-of) (1976) UK #24
- Good Boys... When They're Asleep (best-of) (1999)
- Five Guys Walk into a Bar... (2004)
[edit] Singles
- Stay With Me (1971) #6 UK #17 US
- Cindy Incidentally (1973) #2 UK
- Pool Hall Richard/I Wish It Would Rain (1973) #8 UK
- You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything (1974) #12 UK
- Faces (EP) (1977) #41 UK
[edit] Miscellaneaous
- Their song, "Ooh La La," was used in the ending scene of Wes Anderson's film, Rushmore. It also found its way into the opening scene of Without a Paddle (2004). It's also been used by Mitsubishi for a commercial spot advertising the Lancer. The song has also been covered by Will Hoge and the jamgrass band Yonder Mountain String Band at live concerts.
