‘He’s the one knight on a knackered stallion
His rusty armour so undervalued
Does he know that he’s a reason?
He’s asleep now but never gone….’

So sang Paul Weller on his song ‘He’s The Keeper ‘ on his ‘Heliocentric’ album from the year 2000 about the one and only Ronnie ‘Plonk’ Lane.

Born in East London on April Fools Day 1946, Ronnie in his musical career had three very distinct lives. First up he formed the mod gods The Small Faces with his fellow Majik Mijit Steve Marriott and with Kenney Jones on the pots and pans, before going on to become the three piece be-suited bass king of good time loving The Faces.

He then ventured out solo, travelling hither and yon with his ‘Passing Show’ featuring his band of choice ‘Slim Chance.’ In all three, the sight of the seemingly ever-cheerful grinning face of Plonk is beaming out at those looking in.

He met Marriott in 1965 at the J60 Music Bar in Manor Park, when he walked in to buy a new bass, only to be served by the hyper active Steve. They hit it off immediately and were soon playing together. Their sharply dressed mod look aligned to a burgeoning song writing partnership, propelled The Small Faces into the eye of the Swinging 60s storm. Tales of a drink, drugs and general mayhem emerged from day one, but Lane was never really the same as Marriott, who was full on 24/7. Classic songs like ‘All Or Nothing’ ‘Tin Soldier’ ‘Lazy Sunday’ and ‘Itchycoo Park’ will always mean that the band will always be fondly remembered.

Marriot left the band on New Years Eve 1968, heading towards Peter Frampton to form the heavier sounding Humble Pie. Ronnie, Kenney and the bands keyboardist Ian ‘Mac’ MacLagan joined forces with pals Ronnie Wood and singer Rod Stewart. If ever a band looked like they were having the best time ever, it was The Faces. Classic tunes flowed from the start with ‘Ooh La La’ ‘Stay With Me’ ‘Pool Hall Richard’ and a big favourite of mine ‘Debris’ springing to mind. However, the constant touring from 1970, coupled with the full on party life style and Rod Stewart moving towards a solo career, meant Ronnie had enough by 1973 and he left to give it a go solo.

He formed ‘Slim Chance’ who had a more brown ale life style than champers. They would hit a town, put up a big marquee and perform a gig, accompanied by acrobats, clowns and jugglers. No matter the circumstances, the classic songs continued to flow, even resulting in two chart hits in 1974 with ‘How Come’ and ‘The Poacher.’

Ronnie was up front, now sporting a ‘Totter Chic’ look of waistcoat, watch chain and neckerchief. Sadly, keeping it all on the road meant Ronnie was haemorrhaging money. Going through two divorces and losing contact with his children didn’t help and he was soon skint.

Friends rallied however and in 1977 he released the album ‘Rough Mix’ with Pete Townsend of The Who, who was a fellow devotee of Mehar Baba, the mystic from India.

Then things turned decidedly dark. The first signs to the outside world that Ronnie was suffering from Multiple Sclerosis were noticed in the same year. Kenney Jones described how: “He seemed very forgetful, slurred his words and tripped up a lot. We accused of him of being drunk and of having a secret tipple, but he wasn’t of course.”

Ronnie’s mother had suffered from the same illness and secretly Lane dreaded he would succumb to the same thing. Charity events over the next few years featuring among many others, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton Jeff Beck, Paul Weller and Ocean Colour Scene eased the financial struggle a touch, but in reality he was in a desperate state. By the early 90s, he was confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak. He died of the illness on June 4th 1997

A concert in 2004 organised by John Hellier for the dependents of Ronnie, had the likes of Townsend, Ronnie Wood, Paul Weller, Kenney Jones all performing at the Royal Albert Hall. My good friend Michael Jones Leake and I were the DJs for the night. A personal highlight that, it has to be said
“Short and sweet” is how Ian McLagan, band mate in both The Small Faces and The Faces, remembered his old friend and that says it all.

I’ll leave you with my favourite tune from Ronnie, which is from his Slim Chance period.

God bless you Ron.

The Mumper of SE5