23 Facts About Ronnie Lane

Ronald Frederick Lane was an English musician and songwriter who was the bassist and co-founder of the rock bands Small Faces and Faces.

Ronnie Lane quit the Faces in 1973 and subsequently collaborated with other musicians, leading his own bands and pursuing a solo career.

Ronnie Lane was supported by charity projects and financial contributions from friends, former bandmates and fans.

Ronnie Lane had two children, and two stepchildren who took his name.

Ronnie Lane later described his father as a "saint" who would work a long workday and then return home to nurse his wife and two sons, all of whom were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at different points in their lives.

When shopping for a Harmony bass guitar, Ronnie Lane visited the J60 Music Bar in Manor Park, London, where he met employee Steve Marriott.

Ronnie Lane bought his bass, and went to Marriott's house after work, where Marriott introduced him to his Motown and Stax record collection.

Ronnie Lane co-wrote all but one of the tracks on their 1968 concept album Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake.

Ronnie Lane shared composing or co-composing duties with Stewart, Wood, and McLagan.

Unhappy due to poor reviews of the album and Stewart's lack of commitment, Ronnie Lane quit in 1973, making his last appearance on 4 June at the Sundown Theatre in Edmonton, London.

Ronnie Lane was replaced by Tetsu Yamauchi but tellingly the group made no further studio albums following Lane's departure, and split in 1975.

In 1973, Ronnie Lane moved to Fishpool Farm in the village of Hyssington, Montgomeryshire, Wales, just over the border from England.

However, Ronnie Lane had signed a contract with Atlantic Records as part of the Small Faces and was informed that he owed the company an album.

Ronnie Lane's ensuing album with Pete Townshend, Rough Mix, produced by Glyn Johns, which was released in 1977, was lauded as contender for best album of the year by many critics, but the label did not promote it and sales were lacklustre.

Around this time Ronnie Lane travelled the highways and byways of England and lived a 'passing show' modern nomadic life in full Gypsy traveller costume and accommodation.

Ronnie Lane emigrated to Texas in 1984 first to Houston and then Austin, where the climate was more beneficial to his health, where he continued playing, writing, and recording.

Ronnie Lane formed an American version of Slim Chance, which continued to be a loose-knit conglomeration of available musicians.

For close to a decade Ronnie Lane enjoyed rock royalty status in the Austin area.

Ronnie Lane toured Japan but his health continued to decline.

Jimmy Page, Rod Stewart and Ronnie Lane Wood funded his medical care as no royalties from the Small Faces work were forthcoming.

Ronnie Lane died from pneumonia during the final stages of multiple sclerosis on 4 June 1997.

Ronnie Lane was buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Trinidad, Colorado.

In January 2006 BBC Four broadcast an extensive documentary about Ronnie Lane, The Passing Show that had been in preparation since 2000 and included footage of vintage concerts by the Faces and Slim Chance.