Ronnie Wood Confirms New Studio Music with Rod Stewart, Fueling Faces Reunion Album Hype
The Legendary Reunion: Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood Confirms New Songs with Rod Stewart Ahead of Faces Album
The enduring legacy of rock and roll is perhaps best defined by its most powerful, long-standing partnerships—and few are as iconic and combustible as the bond between Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart. For decades, the two rock titans have navigated separate orbits: Wood as the charismatic guitarist for The Rolling Stones, and Stewart as one of the most successful and enduring solo vocalists in music history. Yet, their mutual origin in the legendary band Faces has always kept their artistic connection alive, a flickering flame that now appears to be roaring back to life.
In a thrilling announcement that has sent ripples of excitement through the classic rock community, Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood has confirmed that he and Sir Rod Stewart are actively working on new material together. This isn't just a casual jam session; this news is the most concrete indication yet that a full-fledged return of The Faces, the seminal group they co-founded in 1969, is imminent, culminating in their first new studio album in over half a century.
The Faces: A Shared History and Unfinished Business
For the uninitiated, the relationship between Wood and Stewart predates even the formation of the Faces. They first shared a stage in the late 1960s as part of the Jeff Beck Group, establishing a musical rapport built on Wood’s gritty, blues-infused guitar work and Stewart’s unmistakable, gravel-and-silk vocal delivery. When the Jeff Beck Group dissolved, they joined the remnants of the Small Faces—keyboardist Ian McLagan, bassist Ronnie Lane, and drummer Kenney Jones—to form Faces.
Faces released four critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums between 1970 and 1973, producing genre-defining tracks like “Stay With Me,” “Cindy Incidentally,” and “Ooh La La.” The band was renowned not just for their music, but for their raucous, party-on-stage ethos, embodying the very spirit of early 70s rock. However, as Stewart’s solo career skyrocketed, particularly with the massive success of albums like Every Picture Tells a Story (which heavily featured Wood's writing and playing), the band dynamic became strained. The Faces officially disbanded in 1975, with Wood promptly joining The Rolling Stones, solidifying the two stars' distinct career trajectories.
Despite the split, the mutual admiration and deep-seated friendship between the surviving members—Wood, Stewart, and drummer Kenney Jones (bassist Ronnie Lane passed away in 1997, and Ian McLagan in 2014)—has never truly faded. Sporadic reunions over the years, including their powerful performance at the 2020 Brit Awards and Wood joining Stewart during his recent Glastonbury set, have consistently fueled fan demand for new music.
The Studio Sessions: A Good Body of Songs
The new material being worked on by Wood and Stewart is not simply a matter of digging up old demos. Recent reports, corroborated by drummer Kenney Jones, suggest the trio has been intermittently recording for several years. Jones, in various interviews, has revealed that approximately eleven new tracks have been laid down in various London studios, including RAK Studios and even Wood’s own home studio in Little Venice.
Wood himself, speaking about the project, emphasized the quality and quantity of the material, suggesting they have a "good body of songs going." He has confirmed that the collaboration involves both finishing tracks "from back in the day" and crafting entirely new compositions. This combination promises a blend of classic Faces swagger with the seasoned maturity of two rock and roll veterans. Fans can anticipate a sound that bridges the raw, blues-rock energy of their 70s output with a contemporary polish, a testament to their enduring chemistry.
The challenge, as Wood has candidly admitted, lies in coordinating the notoriously demanding schedules of the global rock icons. "It's hard to make our times tally," Wood noted, acknowledging the difficulties of aligning a working schedule around The Rolling Stones' colossal touring and recording commitments, and Rod Stewart's worldwide solo tours and Las Vegas residencies. This slow, deliberate pace, however, might ultimately benefit the final product, allowing the songs to mature and ensuring that any release meets their legendary standards.
Anticipation for the Faces Comeback Album
The announcement of new material comes at a pivotal moment. The music landscape is increasingly receptive to legacy acts, and the Faces hold a unique, revered place in the rock pantheon. Their influence is widely cited by subsequent generations of musicians, from The Black Crowes to countless modern blues-rock revivalists.
Should these new songs coalesce into a full album—a highly anticipated event often hinted by Jones to be scheduled for release next year—it would mark the band’s first studio LP since 1973’s Ooh La La. The prospect of a new Faces record is an event of monumental importance, not just for the band’s dedicated following, but for the history of rock itself. It would serve as a powerful bookend to a career defined by joyful, hard-partying musicianship and unshakeable brotherhood.
Furthermore, Wood's renewed focus on the Faces project runs concurrently with his ongoing work with The Rolling Stones, who recently completed a highly successful cycle promoting their critically acclaimed album, Hackney Diamonds. This parallel activity underscores Wood's boundless creative energy and his determination to honor his commitments to both of the legendary bands that have defined his life's work.
In a world where rock music often chases trends, the return of Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart to their shared roots offers a powerful statement: true rock and roll pedigree never fades. The new songs they are crafting are more than just tracks; they are chapters in an unfinished story, a vibrant continuation of one of music's most exhilarating collaborations. The stage is set for a historic comeback, and the rock world is waiting with bated breath to hear what these old friends have cooked up.
Tags:
Ronnie Wood, Rod Stewart, The Faces, New Music, Rolling Stones, Faces Reunion, Kenney Jones, Classic Rock, Rock and Roll, Studio Sessions, New Album 2026, Stay With Me.
