Let the Good Times Roll - Kenney Jones

 As the subtitle reminds us, Kenney was, of course, the master drummer in the Small Faces, the Faces and, for a time, in the Who. He also has done session work galore over the decades and is one of the legends of the day that is still with us. He also seems to be an intelligent and personable ex-Mod, with plenty of stories to tell, although for an American, some of his British-isms can be difficult to decipher!

Having fallen for music early on, Kenney initially had hoped to buy a banjo to play in a skiffle group but when the one he had his eye on was no longer available, a friend let him play his drums to cheer him up. Immediately hooked, he bought a set on hire without his parents knowledge - until they were delivered, of course - but he was so enthralled that they couldn't say no to him. Of course, it paid off as he had a hit song with the Small Faces by the time he was 16!

Innumerable adventures ensue, of course, and, as I've said countless times, it is always super exciting to read about bands' rise to fame in the 60's, with crazy travel schedules, screaming females, TV appearances and experimental recordings. What a time to be alive and in a highly successful rock'n'roll combo! By the time the Small Faces became the Faces, though, the stories devolve into crazed r'n'r hotel antics, mostly. Goofy fun, but not as entertaining and captivating as the early years for me, as we've heard many of these or similar stories at the time.

After dissolving the Faces, there was an ill-fated Small Faces reunion (which Ronnie Lane refused to be a part of) and then, just as Kenney was hoping for a change in a laid-back country-rock band, he was asked to join the Who and "who" could refuse that! I didn't remember all of the details of this time, and Kenney's point of view is interesting, on everything from Roger's hesitations to the tragedy in Cleveland and all sorts of other events.

Of course, all things come to an end and the post-Who section is somewhat standard old-rocker fare - trying to get back old royalties'n'rights, playing now'n'again, health issues galore, deaths'n'births, etc. Certainly, part of the story and it needs to be told, but not overly engaging, to be frank.

But, fun stuff, overall, despite my nit-picks. Kenney seems pretty likeable, in general, and as the last remaining member of the Small Faces, I wish him many more years on this planet of ours!