Flea joins the reunited Faces

Ron Wood confirms the story at party

Joe Bosso, Wed 21 Jan 2009, 9:22 pm UTC

The new face of The Faces

Back in their day - the early '70s, to be exact - The Faces were a sticky, sweaty blues-rock band. 'Funky' they were not. But that's likely to change, with Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist Flea now set to record and tour with the reunited group.

When it was announced last November that Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood were reforming the much-loved outfit - count Oasis and The Black Crowes as huge fans - speculation ran wild as to who would step in to fill the slot left by original Faces bassist Ronnie Lane, who died in 1997.

Ronnie Wood confirms rumours

"It wasn't so much a holiday but a mini-world tour" Ronnie Wood, on writing with Rod Stewart

Rumours began to surface late last year that Flea had rehearsed with the band, and yesterday Ronnie Wood confirmed that the LA-based funkmeister was a lock.

Wood broke the news yesterday (20 January) at the South Bank Awards, held at London's Dorchester Hotel.

In addition, he spoke enthusiastically about a Christmas trip he and Stewart took to Costa Rica, Bermuda and Miami. Besides partying, the duo wrote an album's worth of material.

"I had a great time," said Wood. "It wasn't so much a holiday but a mini-world tour."

But is he ready to jump on stage naked with only a sock covering his privates? That's the big question.