While Rod Stewart is known for his iconic hits such as Maggie May, Da Ya Think I’m Sexy, Forever Young and Hot Legs, the legendary singer first climbed the charts as a member of the 60s rock band, The Faces. Alongside Ronnie Wood, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan, and Kenney Jones, the group released four studio albums, achieved international success and went on to be inducted into the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, highlighting their lasting impact on music.
The band had several hits throughout the 60s and 70s, as their A Nod Is As Good As A Wink… To A Blind Horse reportedly sold a staggering 250,000 copies within a month. Despite selling over 760,000 albums, The Faces parted ways in 1975, with several members, including Rod, embarking on a successful solo career.
Although several factors reportedly influenced their decision to split, Rod quashed the rumours and revealed that one key member caused the breakup.
The rocker detailed: “We’d lost the soul of the band when Ronnie Lane left to go and do his gypsy tour around Britain.
“And once we lost Ronnie, then I think the other Ronnie (Wood) was always gonna join The Stones eventually. But hey, they were five hilarious years.”
Ronnie Lane was reportedly dissatisfied with his role as lead vocalist and as Rod’s solo music began to surpass the band’s, he left, which made way for Ronnie Wood to join the Rolling Stones as a guitarist.
As Rod’s career rose to stardom away from The Faces in 1971, it created a conflict within the band’s schedule and focus.
The band’s promoters also began using the name “Rod Stewart and The Faces,” which further highlighted the disparity and caused resentment among other members.
To date, the musician has had 10 number-one albums in the UK and six number-one singles and has continued to enjoy his successful career with ongoing worldwide tours.
Rod recently impressed thousands of concertgoers with his legends slot at the Glastonbury Festival in June, where he was also joined by former bandmate Ronnie Wood.