Rock Chicks at War ; Next Month a Concert Celebrates Ronnie Lane, the Faces Idol Whose Music Made Millions - and Rod Stewart a Star. But Lane's Real Legacy Is a Tale of Bitter Wives, Feuding Impoverished Children... And a Battle for Money That Would Have Sickened Him

Daily Mail › March 21, 2004

Linked as:

Summary

EARLY next month, some of the biggest names in British pop will gather at the Royal Albert Hall to pay tribute to a quiet, self- effacing - and ultimately tragic - figure who was their inspiration. Yet as stars such as Paul Weller, Ronnie Wood and Pete Townshend jam before 5,000 fans in memory of the late Ronnie Lane, celebrations will be clouded by a bitter feud between his second and third wives, Kate and Susan.

Although the dispute has simmered for almost 20 years, the two women live on either side of the Atlantic and have never vented their feelings face to face.

See the full content of this document

Extract

Rock Chicks at War ; Next Month a Concert Celebrates Ronnie Lane, the Faces Idol Whose Music Made Millions - and Rod Stewart a Star. But Lane's Real Legacy Is a Tale of Bitter Wives, Feuding Impoverished Children... And a Battle for Money That Would Have Sickened Him

Now, it seems, they are locked on a collision course. For, amid an ugly new row over who should benefit from the charity concert on April 8, both Mrs Lanes are planning to attend.

Younger readers may not fully appreciate the significance of Ronnie Lane and his first major band, The Small Faces.

With classic songs like Itchycoo Park, All Or Nothing and Lazy Sunday, and a style that bridged the gap between the Mods and Hippies, they captured the spirit of the Sixties perhaps better than any group excepting The Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Lane, who co-wrote their most memorable hits, went on to achieve further acclaim with Rod Stewart and The Faces. But in 1973, when the...

See the full content of this document