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Hall of Fame plans gone awry: Faces reunion ruined by strep throat, Rod the Boda no-show
Rod Stewart was a last minute scratch from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony last weekend in Cleveland, squashing excitement of the first Faces reunion with Stewart in nearly two decades.
Austin’s own Ian McLagan was on hand to be inducted into the Hall of Fame — for his work with Faces — alongside guitarist Ronnie Wood and drummer Kenney Jones.
Hopes for a Faces performance were again dashed with this missed live opportunity, though Mick Hucknall of Simply Red performed for Stewart in his absence.
In 2008, fans buzzed when McLagan told the BBC that the group were getting together for rehearsals and planning some reunion shows. A Faces reunion website launched, and rumors and speculation swelled that Faces might headline the Austin City Limits music festival. But Stewart squelched the speculation when he denied the reunion; he also admitted to the BBC that he was one member hesitant about getting back together. Foo Fighters would end up headlining the ACL festival that year, though the Faces did play a one-off charity show — without Stewart — at Royal Albert Hall in London in 2009. Hucknall handled vocals at this reunion as well.
In 2008, fans buzzed when McLagan told the BBC that the group were getting together for rehearsals and planning some reunion shows.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony has historically been a venue for retired and estranged bands to orchestrate long-awaited reunions, sometimes inspiring bigger tours.
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, long noted for their disputes, played together for the first time in nine years when they accepted their induction in 1990. Three years later, they played over 20 gigs together. In 1993, the original members of Cream — Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jacke Bruce — shared the stage for the first time in 25 years. A little over a decade later, they would embark on a reunion tour. In 1998, the embattled Fleetwood Mac all appeared together to accept their induction.
Stewart was not the only no-show at the 2012 ceremony. Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses drew attention after he released a long and rambling statement through his publicist regarding his decision not to attend. After saying he would skip the ceremony, Rose went on to say:
I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf. Neither former members, label representatives nor the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame should imply whether directly, indirectly or by omission that I am included in any purported induction of ‘Guns N' Roses’.
Additionally, the Beastie Boys' Adam “MCA” Yauch did not attend the ceremony due to his ongoing recovery from cancer.
We asked Ian McLagan’s publicist Friday if there was any renewed talk of a Faces reunion, but have not heard back. Fingers crossed that the less-than-stellar weekend doesn't mar the band's chances for a future, happier gig.
