Faces (band)

Faces

Company type	Rock band
Industry	Music
Predecessor	Small Faces
Founded	1969 in London, England
Headquarters	London , England
Products	Music albums, singles, live performances

Faces is a British rock ensemble established in London in 1969. Following the departure of Small Faces' lead vocalist and guitarist Steve Marriott, who left to create Humble Pie, the remaining members—bassist Ronnie Lane, drummer Kenney Jones, and keyboardist Ian McLagan—brought in lead singer Rod Stewart and guitarist Ronnie Wood, both previously part of the Jeff Beck Group, and abbreviated the group's name to Faces.

Their initial two albums, First Step (1970) and Long Player (1971), achieved moderate acclaim. However, their third album, A Nod Is As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse (1971), propelled by Stewart’s flourishing solo career, attained global success, reaching number 2 on UK charts and number 6 in the US, featuring the popular track "Stay with Me". After releasing their fourth studio album Ooh La La (1973), Lane was succeeded by Tetsu Yamauchi. This formation produced two singles outside of albums—"Pool Hall Richard" (1973) and "You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything" (1974)—along with a live record, Coast to Coast: Overture and Beginners (1974), before disbanding in 1975. A compilation of greatest hits titled Snakes and Ladders / The Best of Faces was issued in 1976.

Following the breakup, Stewart focused on his solo endeavors while Wood joined the Rolling Stones. Jones became a member of the Who in 1978, and McLagan pursued session work until his passing in 2014. Lane’s career was hindered by multiple sclerosis by 1980, leading to his retirement and eventual death in 1997.

Throughout the 2000s, partial reunions took place with sporadic performances. A short reunion tour occurred during 2010–11 featuring Mick Hucknall and Glen Matlock as vocalist and bassist respectively. In 2012, Faces along with Small Faces were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; although Stewart was expected to perform, Hucknall substituted due to Stewart’s illness. Since 2021, Jones, Stewart, and Wood have occasionally regrouped to produce new music under the Faces banner.

History

Before forming Faces, members collaborated in a band named Quiet Melon that included Ronnie Wood's elder brother Art Wood and Kim Gardner. They recorded four tracks and played several shows in May 1969 during a hiatus from commitments with The Jeff Beck Group for Wood and Stewart. Later that summer, Wood and Stewart departed from Jeff Beck Group to join Lane, McLagan, and Jones full-time. Prior to any official Faces release, Wood and McLagan contributed to Stewart's 1969 solo record An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down (titled The Rod Stewart Album in the United States), which also featured prominent musicians such as drummer Micky Waller and keyboardist Keith Emerson.

With Wood and Stewart onboard, the band removed "Small" from their original name partly due to their taller stature compared to the initial Small Faces lineup. Although record executives preferred retaining Small Faces for its established reputation, the group insisted on a new name reflecting their altered membership. As a compromise, their debut album in the US was credited as Small Faces while later releases adopted the Faces name.

Between 1970 and 1975, they extensively toured across Britain, Europe, and North America becoming one of the era's highest-grossing live acts; their 1974 tour expanded into Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. The 1975 North American tour covered both Canada and the United States. Notable hits included "Had Me a Real Good Time," breakthrough UK single "Stay with Me," "Cindy Incidentally," and "Pool Hall Richard." As Rod Stewart’s solo career grew rapidly, the band’s prominence diminished. Frustrated by limited opportunities as lead vocalist, Ronnie Lane departed in 1973.

Lane was replaced by bassist Tetsu Yamauchi, formerly of Free. The final studio album from Faces, Ooh La La, was released shortly before Lane’s exit. In 1974 they issued a live album titled Coast to Coast: Overture and Beginners, which faced criticism for subpar sound quality; it contained performances from their late 1973 tour—the first featuring Yamauchi. Although some tracks were recorded for another studio project, enthusiasm declined. Their last single was late 1974's UK Top 20 hit "You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything." In 1975 Wood began collaborating with the Rolling Stones, intensifying tensions with Stewart. After a problematic fall tour across North America (including rhythm guitarist Jesse Ed Davis), the band formally announced its dissolution in December.

Post-Band Careers

Following the band's dissolution, its members embarked on diverse professional paths, achieving significant success in various fields. Rod Stewart's solo endeavors have continued to thrive extensively. Ron Wood became a permanent member of the Rolling Stones, balancing his musical contributions with a flourishing career as a portrait painter. After departing in 1973, Ronnie Lane established Slim Chance, which scored a UK hit with "How Come?" but encountered financial difficulties during a self-managed UK tour. Nonetheless, Slim Chance produced three albums under Island Records from 1974 through 1976. In 1977, Lane teamed up with Pete Townshend of The Who for the album Rough Mix. During this time, Lane was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, cutting short his solo career after releasing his final album in 1979. Kenney Jones shifted to session musician work before joining The Who following the passing of Keith Moon. Ian McLagan turned down an invitation to join The Who out of loyalty to his commitment to tour with the Rolling Stones; he later moved to the United States and formed Ian McLagan & the Bump Band. Tetsu Yamauchi returned to Japan where he pursued jazz music through recording and touring before retiring.

A Small Faces reunion occurred in the late 1970s without Lane, resulting in two albums. In 1981, Ronnie Lane and Steve Marriott collaborated on The Legendary Majik Mijits.

The Faces briefly reassembled for Rod Stewart’s 1986 Wembley Stadium concert; Lane appeared in a wheelchair due to his illness, while Bill Wyman filled in on bass. The group reunited once more in 1993 at the Brit Awards when Stewart received the Lifetime Achievement honor. Lane’s final major live appearance was in 1992 during a Ronnie Wood concert; advancing multiple sclerosis led to his retirement by the mid-1990s, and he passed away in 1997.

In February 1993, Stewart and Wood recorded an episode of MTV's Unplugged series in Los Angeles, which was released as the well-received album Unplugged...and Seated, featuring several tracks originally by Faces.

Rhino Records released an extensive four-disc Faces box set titled Five Guys Walk into a Bar... in 2004, compiling hit songs alongside previously unreleased recordings. Drummer Kenney Jones formed the Jones Gang with vocalist Robert Hart (formerly of Bad Company), Patrick Walford, and bassist Rick Wills (formerly of Foreigner).

From 2004 to early 2005, surviving Faces members participated in several partial reunions involving up to three members: In May 2004, Kenney Jones and Ronnie Wood joined Ian McLagan on stage in London; later that August, Wood and McLagan performed alongside Stewart at the Hollywood Bowl. Wood also appeared at Stewart’s concerts held at Madison Square Garden, Royal Albert Hall, and during a London street performance that year. In March 2005, McLagan joined Wood’s band in London with Jones on drums for an encore; by December 2005, Wood performed with Ian McLagan & the Bump Band in Houston.

Reunion

On 11 June 2008, Rod Stewart revealed that discussions were underway among the surviving Faces members about a potential reunion for recording or live performances. By 18 November, Stewart, Ron Wood, Ian McLagan, and Kenney Jones convened for a rehearsal session joined by Stewart’s touring bassist Conrad Korsch. That same month saw the launch of an official reunion website for the band. However, on 23 January 2009, Stewart’s representative denied any plans for a reunion tour within that year.

On 24 September 2009 it was confirmed that the Faces would reunite without Stewart for a single charity concert at London's Royal Albert Hall, supporting the Performing Rights Society's Music Members' Benevolent Fund. Ronnie Wood expressed excitement about this event despite Ronnie Lane’s absence; Lane was commemorated in spirit. The performance on 25 October featured Wood, Jones, and McLagan alongside vocalists such as Mick Hucknall, with Bill Wyman stepping in on bass to replace Lane.

The Faces officially reformed on 25 May 2010 with Hucknall as lead singer and Glen Matlock from the Sex Pistols taking over bass duties. They performed at various festivals across the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Japan throughout 2010 and 2011.

In 2012, Small Faces/Faces were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band announced plans to reunite with Stewart for their first joint appearance in nineteen years at the ceremony; however, due to illness Stewart withdrew and Hucknall provided vocals instead. In June 2013 Kenney Jones confirmed intentions for a reunion tour featuring Stewart scheduled for 2014; yet Ian McLagan’s death in December 2014 cast uncertainty over these plans.

Following a brief reunion at Stewart’s 70th birthday earlier that year, Stewart, Wood, and Jones performed a charity concert at Hurtwood Polo Club on 5 September 2015. The show earned critical praise with The Telegraph describing it as "worth the 40-year wait."

Additional private reunions occurred in 2019 followed by a public reunion in 2020 when Stewart joined Wood and Jones to perform "Stay With Me" at the Brit Awards ceremony.

On 19 July 2021, Jones, Stewart, and Wood reunited in studio sessions to create new material. They have continued developing songs intended for an album slated for release in 2026.

Impact on music

While the Faces did not reach the same commercial heights as contemporaries like the Who and the Rolling Stones, their influence on subsequent rock revival movements was considerable. Their uncomplicated rock and roll approach left a mark on punk bands including the Damned and the Sex Pistols. The band was honored with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.

Current and former members

• Kenney Jones – drums and percussion (1969–1975, 1986, 1993, 2009–2012, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021–present)
• Ronnie Wood – guitar, vocals, bass guitar (1969–1975, 1986, 1993, 2009–2012, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021–present)
• Rod Stewart – lead vocals, harmonica, occasional banjo and guitar (1969–1975, 1986, 1993, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021–present)
• Ian McLagan – keyboards and backing vocals (1969–1975, 1986, 1993, 2009–2012; deceased 2014)
• Ronnie Lane – bass guitar, vocals, guitar (1969–1973; deceased 1997)
• Tetsu Yamauchi – bass guitar (1973–1975)

Additional personnel

• Jesse Ed Davis – rhythm guitar (1975; deceased 1988)
• Bill Wyman – bass guitar (1986, 1993, 2009)
• Andy Fairweather Low – rhythm guitar (2009)
• Mick Hucknall – lead vocals (2009–2012)
• Glen Matlock – bass guitar (2010–2012)
• Robin Le Mesurier – guitar (2015; deceased 2021)

Studio albums

• First Step (1970)
• Long Player (1971)
• A Nod Is As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse (1971)
• Ooh La La (1973)