Kenney Jones

Kenney Jones
Graham Holliday · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Kenney Jones
Background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth name	Kenneth Thomas Gustav Jones
Birth date	1948-09-16
Birth place	Hounslow, Middlesex, England
Instrument	Drums, percussion
Years active	1964–present
Associated acts	Small Faces, Faces, The Who, The Law (group), The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Oasis

Kenney Jones is an English rock drummer known for his work with influential 1960s and 1970s groups and for succeeding a founding member of a major rock band in the 1980s. Over a career spanning beat, mod roots, rock resurgences, and veteran session work, he has worked with prominent figures across British rock, pop music, and punk rock circles. Jones's playing and public roles link him to landmark acts, benefit projects, and music-industry institutions.

Early life and education

Born in Hounslow in 1948, Jones grew up in a postwar London environment shaped by Skiffle, Rhythm and blues, and the burgeoning British Invasion. He attended local schools in Middlesex while absorbing records by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Little Richard, and Sam Cooke, and was inspired by drummers such as Ginger Baker, Charlie Watts, and Ringo Starr. Early informal training and performances in youth clubs led to appearances in London clubs and on the regional circuit alongside emerging acts from Manchester, Birmingham, and Liverpool.

Career with Small Faces and Faces

Jones rose to prominence as drummer for Small Faces, replacing original members during the group's ascent in the mid-1960s British mod scene. With songwriters and bandmates linked to Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan, and managers tied to Don Arden and the Immediate Records milieu, Small Faces recorded hits that connected to Decca Records, Island Records, and the wider British rock establishment. After lineup changes and the departure of Marriott, the group evolved into Faces with former Small Faces members collaborating with Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood after their departures from Jeff Beck Group and Jeff Beck Group comparisons. Faces toured internationally, sharing bills with The Who, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, and The Kinks and contributing to albums released on labels associated with Mercury Records and Warner Bros. Records.

The Who and later band projects

In the early 1980s, Jones was recruited to succeed a longtime drummer in The Who following internal disputes that involved principal members such as Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. He performed on tours and recordings that connected him with festival stages like Live Aid, global venues in New York City and Los Angeles, and collaborations involving producers and promoters from SFX Entertainment-era circuits. Later band projects saw Jones co-found or join ensembles tied to classic-rock veterans, including collaborations with musicians from Free, The Faces, and the supergroup milieu that involved names such as Paul Rodgers, Rick Wills, and members of Bad Company and The Rolling Stones spin-offs.

Session work and production

Jones maintained an active role as a session drummer and occasional producer, working with recording artists across generations including those associated with Island Records, Polydor Records, and major studios in Abbey Road Studios and Olympic Studios. His session credits link him to projects credited to Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, and artists emerging from the New Wave and Britpop scenes such as Oasis and Blur collaborators. Jones also produced tracks and oversaw studio sessions involving arrangers and engineers who had worked with George Martin and Tony Visconti.

Solo career and collaborations

Alongside group work, Jones released solo material and participated in collaborative singles, benefit singles, and charity concerts associated with causes backed by figures from The Prince's Trust and other philanthropic efforts involving celebrities from British television and the Royal Family sphere. He contributed to tribute albums honoring artists like John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, and Bob Marley, and performed at reunion concerts and festivals alongside musicians from Small Faces, Faces, The Who, and peers from the 1970s rock cohort such as Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, and Ronnie Wood.

Personal life and honours

Jones's personal life includes long-standing ties to the London music community, charitable involvement with organizations connected to health and heritage, and public commentary on artist legacy and music-business matters that intersect with institutions like the British Phonographic Industry and cultural bodies such as English Heritage. His honours and recognitions reflect contributions to British music through lifetime-achievement acknowledgements, invitations to industry panels with executives from Universal Music Group and Sony Music, and participation in anniversary events celebrating labels like Decca Records and festivals such as Isle of Wight Festival and the Reading Festival.

Category:English drummers Category:1948 births Category:Living people