A Sad Send-Off For Ron Article: 1974

Faces' Final LP Farewell in Circus

Published in the US on January 1974 in Circus Raves magazine, the four-page article “A Sad Send-Off For Ron” by Jennifer Powell and Steve Demorest reflected on the breakup of The Faces and the release of their last LP together, Overtures And Beginnings. The piece opened with the observation that the album title could just as easily be called “Undertures And Endings” because it provided a last look at a famous band at the peak of their powers.

It recounted how, in 1967, when The Small Faces were reaching pop stardom, founder Steve Marriott walked out, announcing he was “going to play with real musicians.” This left the remaining members in sad shape until 1969, when Jeff Beck sacked his bassist Ron Wood. Rod Stewart went with him, and the pair soon hooked up with the remnants of The Small Faces. The new combination was quickly and ironically dubbed “a bunch of losers” by the English press.

Article Text Excerpt

A SAD SEND-OFF FOR RON:

Their last LP together is called 'Overtures And Beginnings', but because it provides a last look at a famous band at the peak of their powers some say the disc should be called 'Undertures And Endings'.

Sometimes even talent and hard work S together aren't enough to guarantee success for a rock band. Sometimes the key to success is sheer determination and a stiff upper lip when the chips are down. In 1967, when The Small Faces were finally reaching a plateau of pop stardom, founder Steve Marriott walk-ed out on them, announcing he was "going to play with real musicians." This left the boys from London's East End in sad shape until 1969 when Jeff Beck made the mistake of sacking his bassist, Ron Wood. When Ron left, the group's vocalist, one Rod Stewart, went along with him, and the pair soon hooked up with the frowning remnants of The Small Faces. The new combi-nation was quickly and ironically dub-bed "a bunch of losers" by the English press.

Two years later, after the "Maggie May" summer of 1971, The Faces emerged as a super-group to match their super soloist. And following the group's "Stay With Me" single, it look-ed as if they were going to stay on top this time around.

But another two-year cycle has pass-ed, and in the summer of 1973, The Faces once again had to steel their nerves and tough it out through an-other round of problems. Though the past three years indicated a steady up-wards climb for them, with each tour meaning more audiences and more rec-ord sales, and with the parallel career of a hot Rod complementing the group's efforts, their reviews suddenly went sour.