Sir Rod Stewart clarifies real reason behind shock split as he admits 'I would've stayed'

Edinburgh Live

28-06-2025

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Sir Rod Stewart, one of this year's Glastonbury Festival headliners, has put a long-standing rumour to bed about why The Faces split. Established in 1969 in London, the rock band featured members Rod, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan, Ronnie Wood, and Kenney Jones.
The band was made up of former members of other groups, with Ronnie L, Ian, and Kenney moving on from Small Faces, and Sir Rod and Ronnie disbanding from the Jeff Beck Group around the same time.
For many years, 80-year-old Rod has been named as the catalyst for the band's split in 1975, due to his solo career. In a recent interview with Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2 however, he claimed this wasn't the case after all.
Reflecting on his friendship with Ronnie W and Kenney, Rod reminisced: "We don't talk about the old times very much, I mean there's only three of us left, obviously that's without Mac and Ronnie.
"But they were wonderful those days. That was a band I would've stayed in for the rest of my life."
Debunking myths about his departure, he clarified: "People think I left but I didn't, you know, Ronnie joined the [Rolling] Stones and so the whole thing floundered.
"Ronnie Lane had already left because he wasn't happy, so once we lost Ronnie Lane, we lost the soul of the band really."
The remaining members of the band are currently working on an album and a documentary together, and there's even talk of a reunion at Glastonbury this weekend.
Updating fans on their projects, Rod added: "Yeah we've been filming it [the documentary] for some time, we're trying to finish off an album and it's all down to me again, because I've got to get the lyrics finished.
"I've been working so bl***y hard, I've got two albums on the go, two documentaries.
"I'm supposed to be doing a book about my modern railway, which I've just dropped because I ain't got the time, but yeah, there is a documentary.
"We've got a considerable amount of film and some really old stuff. Apparently Kodak gave all of The Faces cameras way back [then and said] 'Shoot what you want' and Kenney has still got it all.
"So, it's going to go way back. I don't know when it's going to be finished, the album is down to me, I need to finish the lyrics off."
Rod is scheduled to headline the Glastonbury Legends slot on Sunday, and last month, he confirmed that Ronnie will be joining him on stage. Rumour has it that Kenney will also be on board, though this hasn't been confirmed.
Festival organiser Emily Eavis expressed her excitement over Rod performing, stating on Instagram: "Bringing Sir Rod Stewart back for the Sunday afternoon slot on the Pyramid stage is everything we could wish for. What a way to bow out with the final legends slot before we take a fallow year. We cannot wait!".