Blog » Bill’s blog – September 25-27, 2009
Tuesday 6th October 2009
The secret is out: Bill Wyman has revealed that The Faces will be reforming for a special one-off gig in aid of the Helping The Heart Of Music event in October – and Bill will be stepping in to replace Ronnie Lane, who died of MS in 1997. And while the one-off gig will be without former front man Rod Stewart, ex-Rolling Stone Bill will be joined by another Rolling Stone in the form of guitarist Ronnie Wood.
Bill pointed out an article in the Glasgow Herald that summed up the story:
Seventies chart stars The Faces are to reform for a one-off show - without their front-man Rod Stewart. Guitarist Ronnie Wood - now a Rolling Stone - has long talked about a reunion for the band, whose hits include Stay With Me. Now he is teaming up with several former band-mates, plus a selection of guest vocalists, to play a charity show at London's Royal Albert Hall next month. The band evolved from the Small Faces when singer Steve Marriott left to form Humble Pie and Stewart stepped in. The band's one-night-only show on October 25 will aid the PRS for Music Members' Benevolent Fund, which helps musicians, song-writers and their families with financial struggles.
The fund has helped Katy Lane, the former wife of Faces star Ronnie Lane, who died of MS in 1997. He will be replaced for the show by ex-Rolling Stone Bill Wyman. Wood will be joined by former Faces members Kenny Jones and lan McLagan.
Wood said: 'This will be so special for us, staging a reunion for such a wonderful and prestigious event. Sadly Ronnie Lane can't be with us, but I'm sure he will be there in spirit, God bless him."
Stewart was unable to perform because he will be out of the country at the time. The performance will be part of the Helping the Heart of Music event, marking the fund's 75th anniversary.
Find out about more Rhythm Kings tickets and events
With Bill still in Esjerb, the day was given over to travelling to Koblenz in Germany, with Bill arriving in the evening to be greeted with what he says was a very strangely laid out room (though he didn’t elaborate). Later, Bill headed downstairs for dinner and drinks, and was also joined by Mike Sanchez, who is on tomorrow’s show with the Rhythm Kings.
Bill was up and ready to go on Saturday, so Bill and the band headed to Lahnsteiner in the afternoon for a sound check, with Bill pausing to sign autographs for two fans who said that they had travelled seven hours from Zurich to see the evening’s show. Bill says that in the afternoon calm before the gig, the venue was great with good sound onstage.
Follow Bill Wyman on Twitter @bill_wyman
At 9pm the Rhythm Kings were driven to the venue and went backstage in preparation for the evening’s gig as part of the Lahnsteiner Festival and Award presentation. Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings were supported by the Lahnstein Blues All Stars, The Oli Brown band, and Mike Sanchez and The Portions. Bill managed to catch part of Mike’s set, before being introduced to Bill’s 80-year-old promoter friend Fritz Rau, who Bill says he hadn’t seen for a while.
Then Bill was the centre of the limelight – a place he usually is happy to share with others. Bill was presented with the Louis Armstrong Blues Award, with Bill thanking everyone and rejoining the rest of the Rhythm Kings. The evening’s Rhythm Kings line-up was the same as in Denmark, except that Albert Lee replaced Georgie Fame, who was playing that evening on Stockholm.
Join Bill Wyman on Myspace
Finally, Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings made it on stage a little before 11pm, playing a lengthy 75 minute set to a fantastic, sold-out and tremendously welcoming audience who did their best to let the band hear their approval. With the set underway, the crowd were soon under the spell as the band played through Baby Workout (Beverley), Jump Jive And Wail (Albert), Chicken Shack Boogie (Geraint), All Night Long (Bill), Too Late (Terry), She's Lookin' Good (Beverley), That's Rock And Roll (Albert), You Never Can Tell (Bill), Sweet Soul Music (Beverley), Johnny B Goode (Geraint), Race With The Devil (Albert) and I Put A Spell On You (Beverley).
The crowd were certainly were happy to soak up a second helping, with the Rhythm Kings performing Crying In The Rain (Albert and Beverley), Honky Tonk Women (Bill) and Tear It Up (Albert).
Naturally, the fans loved it, and around 30 fans were gathered for Bill to sign autographs and have photos taken.
The next morning, Bill headed back to London on the Eurostar, taking photos on the way home of the journey.
Bill pointed out an article in the Glasgow Herald that summed up the story:
Seventies chart stars The Faces are to reform for a one-off show - without their front-man Rod Stewart. Guitarist Ronnie Wood - now a Rolling Stone - has long talked about a reunion for the band, whose hits include Stay With Me. Now he is teaming up with several former band-mates, plus a selection of guest vocalists, to play a charity show at London's Royal Albert Hall next month. The band evolved from the Small Faces when singer Steve Marriott left to form Humble Pie and Stewart stepped in. The band's one-night-only show on October 25 will aid the PRS for Music Members' Benevolent Fund, which helps musicians, song-writers and their families with financial struggles.
The fund has helped Katy Lane, the former wife of Faces star Ronnie Lane, who died of MS in 1997. He will be replaced for the show by ex-Rolling Stone Bill Wyman. Wood will be joined by former Faces members Kenny Jones and lan McLagan.
Wood said: 'This will be so special for us, staging a reunion for such a wonderful and prestigious event. Sadly Ronnie Lane can't be with us, but I'm sure he will be there in spirit, God bless him."
Stewart was unable to perform because he will be out of the country at the time. The performance will be part of the Helping the Heart of Music event, marking the fund's 75th anniversary.
Find out about more Rhythm Kings tickets and events
With Bill still in Esjerb, the day was given over to travelling to Koblenz in Germany, with Bill arriving in the evening to be greeted with what he says was a very strangely laid out room (though he didn’t elaborate). Later, Bill headed downstairs for dinner and drinks, and was also joined by Mike Sanchez, who is on tomorrow’s show with the Rhythm Kings.
Bill was up and ready to go on Saturday, so Bill and the band headed to Lahnsteiner in the afternoon for a sound check, with Bill pausing to sign autographs for two fans who said that they had travelled seven hours from Zurich to see the evening’s show. Bill says that in the afternoon calm before the gig, the venue was great with good sound onstage.
Follow Bill Wyman on Twitter @bill_wyman
At 9pm the Rhythm Kings were driven to the venue and went backstage in preparation for the evening’s gig as part of the Lahnsteiner Festival and Award presentation. Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings were supported by the Lahnstein Blues All Stars, The Oli Brown band, and Mike Sanchez and The Portions. Bill managed to catch part of Mike’s set, before being introduced to Bill’s 80-year-old promoter friend Fritz Rau, who Bill says he hadn’t seen for a while.
Then Bill was the centre of the limelight – a place he usually is happy to share with others. Bill was presented with the Louis Armstrong Blues Award, with Bill thanking everyone and rejoining the rest of the Rhythm Kings. The evening’s Rhythm Kings line-up was the same as in Denmark, except that Albert Lee replaced Georgie Fame, who was playing that evening on Stockholm.
Join Bill Wyman on Myspace
Finally, Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings made it on stage a little before 11pm, playing a lengthy 75 minute set to a fantastic, sold-out and tremendously welcoming audience who did their best to let the band hear their approval. With the set underway, the crowd were soon under the spell as the band played through Baby Workout (Beverley), Jump Jive And Wail (Albert), Chicken Shack Boogie (Geraint), All Night Long (Bill), Too Late (Terry), She's Lookin' Good (Beverley), That's Rock And Roll (Albert), You Never Can Tell (Bill), Sweet Soul Music (Beverley), Johnny B Goode (Geraint), Race With The Devil (Albert) and I Put A Spell On You (Beverley).
The crowd were certainly were happy to soak up a second helping, with the Rhythm Kings performing Crying In The Rain (Albert and Beverley), Honky Tonk Women (Bill) and Tear It Up (Albert).
Naturally, the fans loved it, and around 30 fans were gathered for Bill to sign autographs and have photos taken.
The next morning, Bill headed back to London on the Eurostar, taking photos on the way home of the journey.
