The living legend that is Kenney Jones is one of those characters that I had secretly been hoping would write his memoirs one day and then out of nowhere I suddenly discovered that the ever-awesome and reliable Blink Publishing in the UK had published the aforementioned drummer’s biography detailing his life and times with the Small Faces, the Faces, and none other than the mighty The Who. Lucky me, eh? Entitled "Let the Good Times Roll", this exciting and outstanding piece of literature consists of 358 pages and it is a riveting read from start to finish. For one thing, it is incredibly well-written and full of warmth, humor, irony, sarcasm, and wit. There is something charming and endearing about the way in which Jones recounts his story and experiences, which probably has to do with him coming across as so honest and sincere not to mention that he is clearly not blind to the fact that he handled certain situations and whatnot rather poorly and did not always make the best decisions for himself or those around him. Everything that you can possibly think of in terms of musical triumphs and defeats, creative highs and personel lows, and life outside of the various bands that Jones was in are all contained within "Let the Good Times Roll". Then there is all the rest such as loss, friendship, loyalty, marriage, family life, hobbies outside of music, excess, drugs, alcohol, scumbag managers, and what it was like to grow up in London’s East End, just to list a few of the things that our excellent author covers in this fine book of his. The chapters detailing his musical upbringing as well as the launch of the Small Faces reek of youthful arrogance, energy, passion, and enthusiasm, and they are perhaps some of the most heartwarming and captivating parts of the entire narrative, which is saying something.

From a fan’s perspective, I found it incredibly rewarding to absorb and digest the chapters chronicling his time with The Who and the ups and downs surrounding that particular adventure. Reading about the rather strained and problematic relationship between Roger Daltrey and Jones is both captivating and frustrating, which is testament to what a great a storyteller the latter is in that he makes you feel as if you are actually there to witness and take part in it all. "Let the Good Times Roll" is an emotionally engaging and intense read, which is undoubtedly one of its greatest strengths. The tumultuous career of the Faces and how Ron Wood (Rolling Stones) and Rod Stewart eventually drifted from the flock and things fell apart are also covered in detail.

"Let the Good Times Roll" is housed in a glorious hardback edition and is a beautiful memoir that any fan of either the bands that Jones was in or simply British rock music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s ought to invest in ASAP. Hats off to Blink Publishing for blessing us with such a well-written, funny, and thought-provoking account of one of British music’s most important and talented musicians. Like I said, any fan of old rock music needs to check this one out as it is not merely a mandatory read for fans of the Small Faces, the Faces, or The Who, but instead for everyone who wishes to catch a glimpse of what it was like to be a professional and touring musician back in the glory days of rock ‘n’ roll. From growing up in post-war London to the Mod revolution and further on to 80s stadium rock with The Who, this is brilliant stuff and the perfect book to bring with you on your summer vacation. You know what to do!

https://www.blinkpublishing.co.uk/let-the-good-times-roll.html