These Two Future Rock Legends Radically Transformed an Established Band in 1969
After Steve Marriott left the Small Faces in 1969, Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood joined the remaining members and reshaped the group’s sound into blues rock. The change led them to rename themselves Faces and gave Stewart and Wood an important step towards wider stardom.
The Small Faces had been successful in Britain, with hits including “Itchycoo Park” and the acclaimed 1968 concept album *Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake*, but struggled to reproduce its elaborate studio sound live. Stewart and Wood had recently played with the Jeff Beck Group; after it broke up, they began rehearsing with the remaining Small Faces, whose members eventually invited Stewart to join. Faces became known for energetic, sometimes ragged performances and reached a high point with their 1971 album *A Nod Is As Good As A Wink…To A Blind Horse*, though Stewart increasingly focused on his solo career.
In short
- Stewart and Wood helped turn Small Faces into Faces.
- The new line-up shifted towards blues rock.
- Faces peaked with a 1971 album as Stewart’s solo career rose.
Explained simply
The Small Faces were a successful British band of the 1960s, known for songs such as “Itchycoo Park” and the 1968 album Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake. Their studio recordings could be difficult to recreate on stage, and the group changed direction after singer Steve Marriott left in 1969.
The remaining members began rehearsing with singer Rod Stewart and guitarist Ronnie Wood, who had played together in the Jeff Beck Group. With Stewart and Wood in the line-up, the band took on a blues-rock sound and became known as Faces. The group’s success gave both newcomers a wider audience, while Stewart’s growing solo career later drew him away from the band.
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