Today's London Express trumpets the news that Rolling Stones perpetual bad boy Keith Richards will join erstwhile fellow Stone Ron Wood and the rest of the Rod Stewart-less Faces for the band's reunion performance at the Vintage at Goodwood Festival in West Sussex, England, August 13.
The addition of Richards to the lineup of the original Faces (with Simply Red singer Mick Hucknall standing in for Stewart as vocalist) adds even more spice and star power to what will undoubtedly be one of the most significant band reunion gigs of the year.
According to unnamed sources quoted in the Express, Richards is dissatisfied with the pace of Mick Jagger's mission to reform the Rolling Stones, and "at the end of the day Keith just wants to play."
Formed out of the remnants of Small Faces in 1969 when Steve Marriott left to form Humble Pie, Faces became one of the premier bands in rock for a five-year period. One of the top grossing acts in the world along with Led Zeppelin and the Stones, the band fell apart in 1975 with the ascendance of Stewart's solo career, which led Ronnie Lane to leave the band. Wood began to play with the Stones in 1975, effectively sealing the fate of Faces.
Wood and his mates - original Faces Ian McLagan and Kenney Jones, plus Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock - have dangled the possibility of subsequent gigs after the Goodwood festival. They assembled for a one-off charity gig last year at London's Royal Albert Hall.
The closest Houston will get to seeing the Faces - a rumored SXSW headliner this year that never materialized - is a September 24 date at Verizon by the Black Crowes, who are heavily influenced by the Faces. McLagan warms up for the reunion 9 p.m. this Saturday at the Listening Room at NiaMoves. Tickets are $20.
