Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The Faces: Rod Stewart talks Rock Hall induction

Rod Stewart is headed back to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame for a second time.

In 1994, Stewart was inducted as a solo artist, and will now re-enter the Hall in 2012 as a member of The Faces, who are being inducted alongside the band's original version, The Small Faces.

Rolling Stone caught up with Rod to get his reaction to the news.

“I was absolutely over the moon, as one should be,” says Stewart. “I never thought that would happen. I was a little disappointed with Ian McLagan's remarks about how the two bands shouldn't be lumped in together. I think that was a little out of order. I think Mac should think himself lucky that he's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I know that Woody [Ronnie Wood] and I talked about it and we're over the moon. I'm in as a solo artist and now as a group member, and he being a Stone and a Face. I'll knock him into shape when I see him, McLagan. It's great. It's wonderful. Hopefully the band is going to get together. I said that I'd do it if we can get the rest of the band together. I was with Ronnie a couple of weeks ago. He came up to Las Vegas with me and he said, ‘I'd love to do it.’”

Stewart outlined a brief history of the two lineups to help explain why both are being inducted together.

Steve Marriott left to chase a solo career,” says Rod. “Ronnie and I were both out of work. Was I? Yeah, Ronnie had been fired by Jeff Beck. Once he left, Jeff knew that I wasn't happy. I decided to leave anyway because I missed my mate. The Faces got together in the Rolling Stones' rehearsal room in the East End of London and they were all playing away. Ronnie Lane was singing, but it wasn't very powerful and they decided that they wanted a new singer. Kenny Jones had already spoken to Ronnie Wood about where I was. Ronnie said, ‘Why don't you have a listen? Stand on the top of the stairs, have a listen, and see what you think of the band.’ I said, ‘Okay.’ I stood at the top of the stairs and they played well, but nobody was doing any singing [laughs]. They were just doing Booker T and the MG's songs. So, Kenny came up the stairs and said, ‘We haven't got a singer, do you want to join?’ I went, ‘Yeah!’ And that was it. We went down to the pub and The Faces were born.”

Read more with Rod at Rolling Stone here.


The Small Faces The Small Faces

The Small Faces – Itchycoo Park



FacesThe Faces

The Faces – I’m Losing You
Paris Theatre – London, UK – October 26, 1971


See also:

Rod Stewart to write autobiography
Hear Bob Seger – Downtown Train
New Bob Seger single due Monday morning