Kenney Jones

Talk about pressure! While Kenney Jones spent the 60's and 70's as a highly respected drummer with two successful bands as part of his resume - his life changed pretty dramatically in 1978 when he received a call saying that he was chosen to sit behind the drum kit and replace the then recently deceased Keith Moons spot in The Who. A Herculean and near impossible task as Moon was not just one of the greatest (and in many, many peoples minds, the best ever) drummers in Rock history, he was a renowned "wild man" and one of the most infamous characters ever. Jones, who is on the opposite end of the scale of Moon, as one of Rocks more low-key figures, accepted the position, taking his life on an even more interesting, if not uneven, ride. Jones has now penned an autobiography of his fascinating life with the book, "Let The Good Times Roll."

Actually, "fascinating" is an understatement, as Jones is a founding member of one of the most talented and eclectic outfits to come out of the British Invasion-era, the Small Faces. While the quartet did not reach the same success in the U.S. that many of their peers did, they certainly did internationally and are considered one of the archetypal icons of the 60's Mod movement. Unlike many of his contemporaries who have written autobiographies, Jones had a well adjusted and happy childhood. Living in a family house that was nearly destroyed by a bomb in World War II (Jones states that the windows of the home were trashed, but the home miraculously survived).

He speaks fondly of his days in the Small Faces and of his (now deceased) band mates, Steve Marriott, Ian McLagan, and especially, Ronnie Lane (in one chapter, Jones recounts a fateful meeting one day in which he and Lane went into a music store - a store that Marriott happened to be working at that day. The three musicians had an informal jam, just to check out the sound of the instruments, which lead to a musical bond and the formation of the Small Faces). Jones also runs through the groups days in the studio and the bands managerial issues, including some interesting interactions with famous British music-industry figures as Don Arden (the Small Faces first manager) and Andrew Loog-Oldham. Also, a wild 1968 Australian and New Zealand tour is recounted by Jones, when the Small Faces, The Who, and Paul Jones (from Manfred Mann), were all on the same bill.

Enduring what would have been a death blow to most groups, Marriott eventually abandoned the quartet to form Humble Pie with Peter Frampton (whom Marriott had wanted to add to the Small Faces as a fifth member. A suggestion vetoed by the other band mates, especially Lane and McLagan). This turmoil was not expected as the band has just enjoyed much success with their 1968 concept record, "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" (which is now considered a classic, and it is worth uncovering the outstanding 3-disc CD "tobacco tin" set that Castle Music reissued in 2006). Jones laments that the band never played a single gig in the U.S. (one of the main reasons the Small Faces never reached the level of popularity they so richly deserved).

The seeds of Marriots departure, which Jones describes began at a chaotic New Years Eve show, where Marriott unexpectedly dropped his guitar and left the stage, much to his comrades confusion, and left the bands future in great jeopardy. Marriott would shortly leave and Jones speaks of how the remaining trio, still desperately wanting to stay together, would eventually hook-up with Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart (who were both graduates of the Jeff Beck Group at that time) and went on to bigger things as The Faces. Although, Lane and McLagan were initially apprehensive of Stewart, as they did not want to deal with another temperamental lead singer. But the added members led to greater success - especially in the U.S., where the group was quickly elevated from small venues to arena level shows.

After the demise of The Faces (due in no small part to Wood replacing Mick Taylor in The Rolling Stones and Stewart wanting to pursue his solo work), Jones' career (while still a working musician) garnered lesser attention - until the death of Moon. Jones goes into great detail on his time in The Who, discussing the highs - as his iconic debut with the band at The Rainbow in 1979 and recording for the first time with The Who on the soundtrack to the “Quadrophenia” film. Also, several uneven points are recalled, as his uneasy relationship with The Whos vocalist Roger Daltrey, which quickly deteriorated after the bands new record deal with Warner Brothers. He also speaks of his displeasure with some of the recordings for the next two Who albums he played on - which many feel to this day did not live up to the bands prior discography. Jones also expresses his unhappiness with guitarist Pete Townshend, as he felt Townshend was saving his better penned songs for his solo records.

While Jones was officially released from the band in the spring of 1983, it was of little difference, as Townshend would officially end the group in December of that same year.

The Who would not reunite (save for a technical filled nightmare of a reunion at Live Aid in 1985 - which was still amazing, in spite of all the glitches, and another one-off in 1988 at the Brit Awards) until their 25th Anniversary tour in 1989. But, Jones was not invited back for the reunion jaunt (Simon Phillips was employed for that outing) or for anymore reunions (the group eventually decided on Zak Starkey to permanently fill the drummers slot in the 90's). Jones does recount the only time that he would again perform with Daltrey and Townshend, was in 2014 when the trio regrouped for the Rock 'n' Horsepower benefit concert, a fundraiser for the organization, Prostate Cancer UK. Sadly, this was not a full reunion, as The Whos bass player, John Entwistle, had died in 2002.

While the book is not all music based, Jones also talks abundantly about his passions, flying helicopters and riding horses (which led to another career on the polo field). Also, he recounts surviving a couple of health scares and operations.

Jones is also brutally honest in the book when it comes to his marriages. From the roller coaster ride of his first marriage, to a fateful chance meeting with his second wife, former model Jayne Andrew, "Let The Good Times Roll" is a captivating read.