small faces

Biography

The Small Faces formed in East London in 1965 when Steve Marriott, a former child actor working at the J60 Music Bar, met bassist Ronnie Lane. Together with drummer Kenney Jones and keyboardist Jimmy Winston (soon replaced by Ian McLagan), they became one of the most influential British mod bands of the 1960s. The band's name reflected both their physical stature—all members were shorter than average—and their status as respected figures in the mod subculture. Drawing inspiration from American R&B and soul music, they quickly achieved commercial success with eight UK Top 10 singles, including their 1966 No. 1 hit "All Or Nothing," and reached the pinnacle of their creative output with the 1968 psychedelic rock masterpiece album "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake," which spent six weeks at No. 1 on the UK charts.

Despite their artistic achievements, Steve Marriott felt the band had run its course by late 1968 and walked off stage on New Year's Eve at The Alexandra Palace, frustrated that they weren't being taken seriously as musicians and unable to properly reproduce their sophisticated material live. He departed to form Humble Pie with Peter Frampton. The remaining members—Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones, and Ian McLagan—were joined by Rod Stewart (vocals) and Ron Wood (guitar), formerly of the Jeff Beck Group, transforming into "The Faces" (dropping "Small" as the new members were taller). The Faces became known for their rowdy, ramshackle pub-rock style throughout the early 1970s, though the band eventually fractured when Rod Stewart's solo career overshadowed the group, leading to their breakup in 1975.

The Small Faces' legacy encompasses their pioneering fusion of mod culture with psychedelic rock and their influence on subsequent generations of British rock musicians. Their catalog—ranging from stomping R&B to whimsical pop to psychedelia—demonstrated remarkable versatility and creativity. Band members went on to significant careers: Kenney Jones became drummer for The Who following Keith Moon's death in 1978, Ron Wood joined the Rolling Stones, and Ian McLagan performed with Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones. The band's impact on proto-punk, psychedelic rock, and northern soul remains substantial, with their music continuing to influence artists across multiple genres.

Fun Facts

• The band's name 'Small Faces' had dual meaning: all four original members were shorter than average height, and 'Face' was a mod subculture term for the most highly regarded members of the mod community.
• Steve Marriott walked off stage mid-performance on New Year's Eve 1968 at The Alexandra Palace in London, yelling 'I quit' because he felt the band wasn't being taken seriously as musicians and couldn't properly reproduce their sophisticated material in live performances.
• When Rod Stewart and Ron Wood joined the remaining Small Faces members to form The Faces, they dropped 'Small' from the band name because both new members were significantly taller than the original lineup, making the name no longer accurate.
• The band members' post-Small Faces careers were remarkably successful: Kenney Jones became The Who's drummer, Ron Wood joined the Rolling Stones, and Ian McLagan performed with Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, demonstrating the caliber of musicianship within the original group.

Members

• Jimmy Winston - keyboard, original (from 1965 until 1965)
• Kenney Jones - drums (drum set), original (from 1965 until 1969)
• Ronnie Lane - bass guitar, lead vocals, original (from 1965 until 1969)
• Steve Marriott - guitar, lead vocals, original (from 1965 until 1969)
• Ian McLagan - keyboard, lead vocals (from 1966 until 1969)
• Ronnie Lane - bass guitar, lead vocals, original (from 1975 until 1975)
• Kenney Jones - drums (drum set), original (from 1975 until 1978)
• Steve Marriott - guitar, lead vocals, original (from 1975 until 1978)
• Ian McLagan - keyboard, lead vocals (from 1975 until 1978)
• Rick Wills - bass guitar (from 1976 until 1978)
• Jimmy McCulloch - guitar (from 1977 until 1977)

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Don Arden - Original manager who signed the band to Decca Records; later felt to be creatively and financially restrictive (Early Decca Records period) [1965-1967]
• Andrew Loog Oldham - Rolling Stones' publicist who lured the band to his new Immediate Records label, enabling more expansive creative direction (Immediate Records releases including Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake) [1967-1968]

Key Collaborators

• Steve Marriott - Lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary creative force; founder and driving member (All Small Faces recordings 1965-1968; The Faces recordings 1969-1975) [1965-1978]
• Ronnie Lane - Bassist and co-leader; met Marriott at J60 Music Bar and co-founded the band (All Small Faces recordings; The Faces recordings until 1975) [1965-1975]
• Kenney Jones - Drummer from the original lineup; provided rhythmic foundation throughout band's existence (All Small Faces and Faces recordings) [1965-1978]
• Ian McLagan - Keyboardist who replaced Jimmy Winston early in the band's career; essential to their psychedelic sound (Small Faces recordings from 1966 onward; Faces recordings) [1966-1978]
• Rod Stewart - Vocalist who replaced Steve Marriott in The Faces; brought solo career prominence to the group (The Faces albums and tours; concurrent solo work including 'Every Picture Tells A Story') [1969-1975]
• Ron Wood - Guitarist who replaced Steve Marriott in The Faces; former Jeff Beck Group member (The Faces albums and tours) [1969-1975]
• Peter Frampton - Collaborated with Steve Marriott to form Humble Pie after Small Faces disbanded (Humble Pie recordings) [1969 onward]

Artists Influenced

• The Who - Kenney Jones joined as drummer after Keith Moon's death, bringing Small Faces' rhythmic sensibilities to the band (The Who recordings from 1979 onward) [1978 onward]
• The Rolling Stones - Ron Wood joined the band; Ian McLagan performed with them; band's mod-to-psychedelic evolution influenced their direction (Rolling Stones recordings from mid-1970s onward) [1975 onward]
• Proto-punk and psychedelic rock artists - Their fusion of mod culture with psychedelic experimentation influenced the development of these genres (Albums like Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake) [1968 onward]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Itchycoo Park (Mono Version) - 2012 Remaster (Small Faces - Deluxe Edition (2012 Remaster))
2. Itchycoo Park (There Are But Four Small Faces (Expanded))
3. All Or Nothing (From The Beginning)
4. Lazy Sunday - Stereo (Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake)
5. Lazy Sunday (Mono Version) (2018 Remaster) (Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake - 50th Anniversary Edition (2018 Remaster))
6. Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake (Stereo Version) (2018 Remaster) (Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake - 50th Anniversary Edition (2018 Remaster))
7. Itchycoo Park - 2012 Remaster
8. Tin Soldier (There Are But Four Small Faces (Expanded))
9. Tin Soldier - 2013 Remaster (Small Faces - Deluxe Edition (2012 Remaster))
10. Lazy Sunday - 2012 Remaster

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not provided in search results)
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #blues-rock, #british-rhythm-&-blues, #mod