Article published in RAVE magazine, September 1968
Steve Marriott And The Changing Small Faces | STEVE MARRIOTT is knocked out with life, but life spends a lot of time knocking Steve and the rest of the Small Faces. The Faces have not exactly enjoyed a smooth passage since, as four young mods, they burst upon 1965 with “Watcha Gonna Do About It?”
Then they were Steve, Ronnie ‘Plonk’ Lane, Kenny Jones and Jimmy Winston. Later Jimmy was replaced by Ian ‘Mac’ McLagan and Ronnie since has dropped the ‘Plonk’. They have survived the Mod era remarkably well, despite seemingly endless rows and ‘hang-ups’, the biggest being when they changed their management and record label.
Fans have stayed loyal and the screams have echoed round the world whenever Steve has bared his teeth, bitten the microphone and smashed into his guitar. But there have been some promoters who have not always expressed complete satisfaction with their scheduled appearances.
The Faces have earned a reputation for being ‘difficult’. In fact lots of anti-pop people shout rude things at Stevie almost every time he walks down the street, and nasty letters arrive in the post, even when he recently married Jenny Rylance.
Changes in the group
“People often shout ‘Oi Ginger!’ when I walk around Shepherds Bush market,” said Steve as we walked down Charing Cross Road one wet afternoon, on the way to the pictures.
“So, I thought, right—I’ll wear a collar, tie and a nice dark suit. But they still shouted out. It’s me barnet I suppose. They just don’t like long hair.”
But in London’s Soho, the population are used to more unusual sights than tiny Steve in dark red satin trousers, a Fair Isle pullover, green shirt and white shoes, dodging through the taxis and buses. Just a few foreign tourists jabbered excitedly: “Mein Gott, ist Stevie Marriott-wagen!” or words to that effect.
Before going into a cramped Wardour Street cinema to see a film of the group in action, Stevie talked about the changes they have been through.
“I’ve changed in myself and the group has changed as things have happened to us. In the days of ‘All Or Nothing’ we were a moody pop group. Then ‘Lazy Sunday’ showed us a group that likes to enjoy themselves.
Steve Marriott And The Changing Small Faces
“Today, with ‘The Universal’, which should have been called ‘Hello The Universe’ by the way, we are into a weird fantasy. It’s me getting up in the morning and shouting to the sun: ‘Isn’t life a groove!’ And life is incredible when you think about it.
“It’s very funny when you think about the past. We used to be really aggressive, and of course we still are on stage. But on record, with ‘Lazy Sunday’ and ‘Ogden’s Nut Gone’ we are turning into a funny group, because basically we are comical people. I think this came across, especially on the album.
“It’s all humorous and meant to be taken with a pinch of salt. I love being on stage as well, using up the energy and aggression you can’t use in everyday life. Let’s face it—we always have been arrogant.
“We’re violent on stage and the kids love us to be violent. We give it to them—and they take it and give it back. I suppose we are aggressive because we are all small and have got complexes.”
What were the different stages in Small Face development?
“The first one was the young mod stage. Then came the limbo stage, and that was only because we were messed around such a lot.
“For six months we were very limbo—changing managers, and agents and labels. It shows in our records. I liked our first album for Immediate, but the songs weren’t quite songs, if you know what I mean? There was something missing.
“But the second album—’0gden’s’— had good songs and they weren’t all talking about ‘acid’ and seeing colours in the mind. Cor—look at all the colours!”
Back in school days
Stevie remembered the days when he was an East London school kid, and a raving pop fan.
“When I was at school they always said: ‘Could do well if he put his mind to it’. But I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, man. All I used to do was watch Cliff Richard doing his first shows on ‘Oh Boy’. thought he was incredible, and Lonnie Donnegan really turned me on as well.
So I went through all the groups that were imitations of the Shadows, then it was Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf.
“When I became a pop star at last and discovered what the pop business was like—it was horrible. A lot of bad things went on and still go on today.
“All of us—Ronnie, Kenny, Mac and me, I went through bad neuroses. At one time we used to have vitamin injections to keep us going.
Steve Marriott And The Changing Small Faces
“And all the time there was legal bother, when I wished I could just play. It’s a relief it’s over, but even now you feel, someone, somewhere, has a writ for you, or is hunting for you.
“It’s amazing man, all we want to do is trust people, and all we know about is singing and writing music. But it seems you have to be a big business man as well, and we never were any good at learning at school.
“There’s such a lot of monsters about. I mean—we wanted to do something with Donovan, right? And Don wanted to do something with us. But then the monsters take over and stop us. One day the groups will take over the business. Things like Apple will succeed because the right people are backing it.”
How has life changed for Stevie since his marriage? How did his fans react to the news?
“It’s no different. It was just an own up that I loved Jenny.
“I got lots of really nice fetters from fans wishing us good luck. Some letters came that weren’t so nice, and others came with all our records broken up and scratched across with a nail-file. ‘Oh he’s married! There’s no chance for me!’ As if there ever was a chance. I mean—what’s all that about? If ever a fan met me, she certainly wouldn’t want to marry me. I’m rotten really, and any way I wipe my shoes on the bed — and who would put up with that!”
Some ‘Mod Delights’ under review
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