The Faces

The Faces
Name	The Faces
Caption	Faces performing in 1971
Background	group_or_band
Origin	London, England
Genres	Rock music, Rhythm and blues, Blues rock, Folk rock
Years active	1969–1975, 2009–2010
Labels	Warner Bros. Records, Immediate Records, Atlantic Records, Atlantic Records (UK)
Associated acts	Small Faces, Rod Stewart, The Jeff Beck Group, Faces (2009 lineup), Ronnie Lane

The Faces were an English rock band formed in London in 1969, emerging from the dissolution of Small Faces and the disbanding of The Jeff Beck Group. Renowned for a loose, raucous stage persona and a blend of Rock music, Rhythm and blues, and Blues rock, the group featured prominent musicians who later pursued solo careers, most notably Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. Their output between 1969 and 1975 influenced Glam rock, Punk rock, and Britpop artists and maintained a cult following through reissues and retrospective compilations.

History

The band formed when members of Small Faces—after departures and label disputes with Immediate Records—joined with musicians from The Jeff Beck Group following that group's cessation. Early lineups rehearsed in London and recorded initial sessions produced by figures associated with Warner Bros. Records and Atlantic Records. Debut singles and albums were released amid the British music scene dominated by acts such as The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin. Touring the United Kingdom and United States, they performed at venues frequented by contemporaries like The Who, Humphrey Lyttelton, and Ike & Tina Turner. Internal tensions over songwriting credits and management paralleled disputes similar to those involving Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, contributing to lineup changes. By 1975 the band effectively dissolved as members pursued solo projects with affiliations to Mercury Records, Warner Bros., and independent labels; later reunions occurred, including a 2009–2010 reformation that featured members connected with Jeff Beck and celebrations tied to anniversaries of albums originally issued on Warner Music Group imprints.

Band members

Core personnel included musicians with prior and subsequent associations to influential acts. Key figures were former Small Faces members who transitioned into the new ensemble alongside talent from The Jeff Beck Group. Notable musicians involved at various times worked with artists and institutions such as The Rolling Stones, The Faces (2009 lineup), Ron Wood, Kenney Jones, and collaborators linked to Rod Stewart’s solo band. Session contributors and touring sidemen had ties to Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend, Billy Nicholls, and producers affiliated with Glyn Johns and Jimmy Page-era studios. Bassists, drummers, guitarists, and keyboardists who rotated through the roster later recorded with The Who, The Kinks, The Pretenders, The Clash, and solo projects on labels such as Island Records and Virgin Records.

Musical style and influences

Musically, the group blended elements derived from Rhythm and blues practitioners, British Blues rock revivalists, and American roots traditions associated with Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Buddy Holly. Their arrangements incorporated boogie patterns favored by Chuck Berry and improvisational approaches reminiscent of John Mayall and The Yardbirds. Vocal delivery and staging showed links to Little Richard, Sam Cooke, and contemporaries like David Bowie and Elton John; songwriting drew on narrative techniques found in works by Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. The band’s recording techniques used studio personnel connected to Glyn Johns, Ron Nevison, and engineers who worked with The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, emphasizing live takes, raw mixes, and occasional horn sections associated with Stax Records-style arrangements.

Discography

The group released multiple studio albums, compilations, and singles under major labels active in the 1970s. Albums and singles appeared alongside contemporaneous releases by Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and David Bowie in charts administered by organizations such as Official Charts Company and Billboard. Reissues and anthology packages later involved labels including Warner Bros. Records, Universal Music Group, and specialty imprints that issue remastered editions. Solo projects by principal members generated additional catalog entries on Mercury Records, Island Records, and Reprise Records, creating cross-references between band and solo discographies documented in music encyclopedias and periodicals like Rolling Stone and NME.

Live performances and tours

Their touring history encompassed headline dates and festival appearances across Europe and North America, sharing bills with acts such as The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Band. Concerts at venues associated with legendary performances—clubs in Soho, London, arenas in Madison Square Garden, and festivals akin to Isle of Wight Festival—contributed to the band’s reputation for high-energy shows. Live recordings and bootlegs circulated among collectors alongside official live releases overseen by labels tied to archival projects by Rhino Entertainment and Sanctuary Records, documenting performances featuring extended jams, cover versions of Chuck Berry songs, and improvisations comparable to The Allman Brothers Band.

Legacy and influence

The ensemble’s aesthetic informed later movements, influencing artists in Glam rock, Punk rock, and Britpop; musicians and bands citing them include members of Oasis, The Who-adjacent projects, and solo acts like Rod Stewart alumni. Their approach to songwriting and stagecraft resonated with entertainers linked to David Bowie, Mick Jagger, and Paul McCartney. Retrospective coverage in publications such as Rolling Stone, Mojo (magazine), and Uncut (magazine) framed the group as a bridge between 1960s mod culture—represented by Small Faces and managers tied to Immediate Records—and 1970s rock stardom involving labels like Warner Bros. Records and Atlantic Records.

Awards and recognition

While the band itself received limited formal honors during its original run, members accrued individual accolades and inductions, appearing on lists compiled by Rolling Stone and hallmarks such as inductions into musician halls and lifetime achievement acknowledgments associated with institutions like Grammy Awards committees and heritage programs supported by British Phonographic Industry. Posthumous recognitions, reissue commendations, and inclusion on retrospective "greatest" lists by outlets including BBC Music, NME, and Pitchfork have affirmed the group's continuing cultural footprint.

Category:English rock music groups