Recommendations of the Editorial team
Rod Stewart and Ron Wood made international headlines on May 11 when they were caught on an open microphone lambasting Donald Trump to King Charles shortly after his visit to America. “Good afternoon, sir, may I say respect for your dealings with the Americans,” Stewart said to King Charles in the reception line at the Royal Albert Hall. “You were great, absolutely great. You showed this little greaser his place.”
But the former Faces colleagues also caused a musical sensation that day: They stood together on stage at the King’s Trust Celebration Concert in the Royal Albert Hall and played “Ooh La La” and “Good Rockin’ Tonight” with the house band Jools Holland & His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. Wood took lead vocals on “Ooh La La,” just as he did on the Faces’ original 1973 recording. Stewart sang lead on “Good Rockin’ Tonight,” which he recorded with Holland on the 2024 collaboration album “Swing Fever.”
The Prince’s Trust is an organization founded by King Charles in 1976. It supports young people in England who are facing economic insecurity. The Prince’s Trust’s first charity concert was held at the Royal Albert Hall in 1982 and included performances by Kate Bush, Phil Collins, Pete Townshend, Madness and Robert Plant. Mick Jagger, Elton John, George Michael, Sting, Eric Clapton, Tom Jones and Mike and the Mechanics played at later events. The Faces’ mini-reunion was the highlight of the evening this year, which also featured performances from Rita Ora, Craig David and Anne-Marie, as well as a guest appearance from George and Amal Clooney.
Faces album is coming at some point
Rod Stewart and Ron Wood have been thinking about recording a Faces reunion album with drummer Kenney Jones for years. In a recent interview with the Telegraph, Jones said they had already recorded 11 songs. “Not everyone will make it on the album,” he said. “But most of them are good. I don’t think it’ll be out this year. But I can see it coming out next year. Everyone’s doing different things right now. We’re recording a little bit here and there. And then suddenly the Stones are on tour again, Rod is on the road again…”
It should be noted that a Faces reunion album is the classic rock equivalent of Donald Trump’s healthcare plan. It has been on the verge of becoming a reality for almost a decade. Whenever the band members talk about it, it’s supposedly about a year away.
Jones is right that Rod Stewart has a busy schedule. He resumes his residency at Caesars Palace on May 27 and then plays amphitheaters and arenas across North America throughout the summer before returning to Las Vegas in August. However, he is wrong with the Stones’ tour schedule. The band hasn’t played a show since July 2024, has foregone a European tour in 2025 and 2026 despite venues already reserved, and currently has no plans to promote their upcoming album “Native Tongues” live.
Keith Richards on Stones tour
“Oh, I mean, we can talk next year,” Keith Richards told the AP when asked about a Stones tour. “Possibly, you know, right now we’re just saying: We’ve finished the record, let’s let it sink in. Not this year, anyway.”
Meanwhile, Ron Wood has a handful of solo gigs booked in Europe this summer. But he still has enough room in the calendar to get back into the studio and finally finish this Faces album.
