How a British rock star traded the stage for a nomadic gypsy life
In short: Ronnie Lane, the bassist and co-founder of Small Faces and Faces, was a titan of British rock. Yet, as multiple sclerosis began to take hold, he abandoned the traditional music industry to live a modern, nomadic existence, touring in a circus-style carnival and embracing the life of a traveller.
Born in 1946 in a working-class area of Essex, Ronnie Lane rose to fame as the bassist for Small Faces, a band defined by their diminutive stature—all members were no taller than 5' 6". Alongside Steve Marriott, Lane co-wrote iconic hits like "Itchycoo Park" and "All or Nothing." Following the band's 1969 dissolution, he formed Faces with Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood, eventually taking a central creative role during the recording of their final album, Ooh La La, in 1972.
Lane’s life took a dramatic turn in 1973 when he quit Faces, citing dissatisfaction with the band's direction. He subsequently formed his own group, Slim Chance, and launched "The Passing Show," a unique, circus-style carnival that toured the UK with tents and barkers. By the late 1970s, as his battle with multiple sclerosis intensified—a disease he had inherited from his parents—Lane adopted a nomadic lifestyle, often appearing in full Gypsy traveller attire. This period of his life became a defining, albeit unconventional, chapter of his career.
Despite his declining health, Lane continued to record and collaborate with artists like Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend. His later years were marked by financial hardship; because he received no royalties from his work with Small Faces, friends including Jimmy Page and Rod Stewart eventually funded his medical care. After moving to the United States in 1984, he settled in Austin, Texas, where he maintained a dedicated following for nearly a decade. Lane passed away in 1997 from pneumonia, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire musicians who view him as a keeper of authentic, heartfelt songwriting.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Ronnie Lane
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