Ronnie Lane (1 April 1946 – 4 June 1997) was an English musician, songwriter, and producer who is best known as the bass guitarist and founding member of two prominent English rock and roll bands: the Small Faces (1965–69) and the Faces (1969–73). Subsequently Lane collaborated with other musicians, leading his own bands and pursuing a solo career, while remaining close to his former bandmates. For his work in both Small Faces and Faces, Lane was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. (More from Wikipedia)
The article on Small Faces in Allmusic opens: “Small Faces were the best English band never to hit it big in America.” Frontman Steve Marriott was the lead guitarist and lead vocalist for the band; he had already appeared in a key role in the musical Oliver!. Ronnie Lane (bass guitar) invited Marriott to jam with his band the Pioneers, which also included Kenney Jones (drums) – while that gig didn’t go well, the three decided to move in the direction of American R&B. The fourth bandmember was Jimmy Winston (organ), who was replaced by 1966 with Ian McLagan.
By the time the Faces album Ooh La La came out in 1973, Rod Stewart’s superstar status was wearing on the other bandmembers; Ronnie Lane left the band right after that. Ron Wood was lured to the Rolling Stones, drummer Kenney Jones eventually joined the Who, and Ian McLagan became a sought-after session keyboard player.
(April 2014)
