Peter's Faces

Quartet formed by Peter Nelson out of his previous group (Peter Nelson & the Travellers), the name Peter's Faces sounded cooler than the group's music evidently did -- one might've hoped for a good, hard mod sound, given their use of the slang term "face," but they were a lot less intense, than, say, the Small Faces or the Who. Nelson sang and played bass, while Tony Hall handled the rhythm guitar and saxophone, John McDonald played lead (succeeded for a time by Vic Briggs, who was billed at the time as Antion Meredith), and Peter Coleman played the drums. They were signed to Pye Records' Piccadilly label and issued three singles during 1964 and 1965: "Why Did You Bring Him to the Dance" b/w "She's in Love," "Wait" b/w "Just Like Romeo and Juliet," and "De-Boom-Lay-Boom" b/w "Suzie Q," none of which ever charted, though this last evidently came close. Nelson tried for a solo career in 1965 as a balladeer on Piccadilly, and later, with Faces member Robin Shaw, he had a hand in forming the Flowerpot Men in conjunction with the members of the Ivy League. They enjoyed some success on Deram Records with "Let's Go to San Francisco" and by 1970, with Nelson and Shaw still aboard, had morphed into White Plains, who had a hit with "My Baby Loves Lovin'." Shaw and guitarist Tony Hall reportedly continue to perform in the 21st century as members of the current edition of Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers, working the oldies circuit in England and continental Europe. One of their songs, "I Don't Care," has been released on CD, on the Sequel label's Hippy Hippy Shake: Beat Era, Vol. 2 compilation. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide