SLIM CHANCE Ronnie always jokingly claimed that he found the musicians for Slim Chance in the pages of Exchange and Mart. In 2010 Charlie Hart and Steve Simpson trawled the streets of South London and miraculously found three more ex-Slim Chancers who were all keen to sign up again to the quest for Ronnie's musical holy grail. By gigging round the country the line-up has gelled into a fine band and become a powerful entity in its own right.

The aim is to create a show which celebrates the range of Ronnie's later music: to take this show to people in village halls and clubs, festivals and theatres at home and abroad; and eventually, joined by numerous friends, to resurrect the Passing Show itself.

ALBUMS

SLIM CHANCE HALL OF FAME Over time there have been many musicians who worked with Ronnie after he left the Faces, as part of Slim Chance and its offshoots. These include:

Cal Batchelor; Brian Belshaw; Steve Bingham; George and Ray Carless; Eric Clapton; Colin Davey; Alun Davies; Ed Deane; Hughie Flint; Jim Frank; Benny Gallagher; Carol Grimes; Charlie Hart; Jimmy Jewell; Glen le Fleur; Billy Livsey; Graham Lyle; Binky McKenzie; Drew McCulloch; Henry McCullough; Ruan O’Lochlainn; Robin Lucas; Ian McClagan; John Porter; Bruce Rowland; Steve Simpson; Ken Slaven; Chrissy Stewart; Ian Stewart; Pete Townshend; Mick Weaver; Kevin Westlake.

In the States, Ronnie worked with musicians including Rich Brotherton; Jodie Denberg; Joe Ely; Alehandro Escovedo; J.D.Foster; John D.Graham; Ronnie Johnson; Susan Voelz.

Slim Chance reformed briefly for the Ronnie Lane Albert Hall concert in 2004. Those taking part were: Sam Brown; Alun Davies; Geoff Dugmore; Charlie Hart; Chris Jagger; Mick Jones; Bob Loveday; Glen Matlock; Henry McCullough; Mike Paice; Rosie Whitfield; Keith Smart; Chrissy Stewart; Pete Townshend; Ronnie Wood; Geraint Watkins; Paul Weller.

Summer 2014

2014 has got off to a lively start with the release by Universal Records of all the material recorded by Ronnie and the band for Island Records in the mid Seventies. The album is suitably entitled ‘Ooh La La’. The release has produced a torrent of publicity on the radio and in the music and national press and the band’s – and of course Ronnie’s – profile has been suitably raised.

‘Reformed but unrepentant’, the band has continued keeping alive Ronnie Lane’s musical legacy with a touring show that is universally very well received, combining excellent musicianship, classic songs and a great vibe.

Slim Chance, formed by Ronnie Lane of the Small Faces and Faces, now boasts four original members ‐ Charlie Hart, Steve Simpson, Alun Davies and Steve Bingham ‐ all of whom recorded and performed with Ronnie back in the day. They are usually joined by the renowned pianist and vocalist Geraint Watkins and by John Lingwood (ex‐Family, Mannfred Mann) on drums.

Collectively their credits include working with Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Paul Weller, Roger Chapman, Dave Gilmour, Pete Townsend, Geno Washington, Ralph Mctell, Chris Farlowe, Chris and Mick Jagger, Roger Daltrey and more…

In May 2012 the re‐born Slim Chance released their first album – ‘The Show Goes On’ – joined by Geraint Watkins and Nick Pentelow. It received great reviews from such magazines as Uncut describing the album as “showing uncanny empathy with Ronnie’s joie de vivre spirit…beautifully played and clearly delivered with much love”.

The current show is a lively affair, honed down as the new Slim Chance has acquired its own distinctive character. Songs featured include ‘How Come’, ‘The Poacher’, ‘Ooh La La’, ‘Kuschty Rye’ and ‘Debris’ as well as equally strong Lane classics like ‘Any More For Any More’ and ‘One For The Road’.

To mark the launch of the new album ‘Ooh La La’ the band took over Dingwalls in London and staged a night’s entertainment that was desigend to conjure up the Passing Show – Ronnie’s legendary escapade touring the band in a full circus environment, complete with clowns and can‐can girls. The band intends to follow this up with a similar show before too long.

So it’s not only the likes of Pete Townshend and Eric Clapton who realize the major contribution Ronnie Lane made to British music. There are hard core fans around the world recognizing that the new Slim Chance is a band to be reckonned with, known to deliver consistently brilliant and entertaining live shows. www.slim­chance.co.uk