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Ronnie Lane, Bass Player for the Small Faces and the Faces – Songwriter behind iconic songs such as Ooh La La, Itchycoo Park, The Poacher, Annie and Debris… In many ways Ronnie Lane remains an enigma in the story of rock ‘n’ roll. An artist who was determined to chart his own destiny and break free from the demands of the music “business”.

His sense of disillusion with the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle led him to leave his hugely successful band for a ramshackle country Farm (Fishpool) and a life on the road (of sorts…) He would create The Passing Show – a now legendary circus tent tour of the country with assorted clowns, acrobats and comedians… To further his ambition to do as he pleased musically he bought his own recording studio – The Lane Mobile Studio – itself an icon in the history of rock recordings.

Ronnie created a sound and style that leaned heavily on an array of influences particularly folk, country music and later r’n’b with welcome contributions from the band of musicians he surrounded himself with. Ronnie was not alone in his rural idyll – many friends would join him in his new artistic endeavours – Gallagher and Lyle, Kevin Westlake, Billy Livesey as well as Ronnie Wood, Pete Townshend and Eric Clapton (the latter wrote Wonderful Tonight round the fire at Ronnie’s Fishpool Farm). Eventually the symptoms of MS would surface and in the 80s Ronnie would move To Austin Texas where he still wrote and performed up until his death in 1997.

Ronnie Lane is one of the finest songwriters the UK has produced. This is the first time that comprehensive look at Ronnie’s post Faces career has been undertaken. It will appeal to fans of the Faces and Small Faces as well as fans of the various artists Ronnie collaborated with.