Biography
Peter Nelson assembled this quartet from the remnants of his earlier outfit Peter Nelson & the Travellers. Although the name Peter's Faces carried more promise than the actual recordings, the group never delivered the aggressive mod attack that the slang term “face” might have suggested, remaining far milder in approach than either the Small Faces or the Who. Nelson handled vocals and bass, Tony Hall covered rhythm guitar and saxophone, John McDonald took the lead-guitar chair (temporarily filled by Vic Briggs, then billed as Antion Meredith), and Peter Coleman sat behind the drums. The band landed on Pye Records’ Piccadilly imprint and released three singles across 1964 and 1965—“Why Did You Bring Him to the Dance” backed with “She's in Love,” “Wait” backed with “Just Like Romeo and Juliet,” and “De-Boom-Lay-Boom” backed with “Suzie Q”—none of which reached the charts, though the final release came nearest. In 1965 Nelson launched a brief solo career on the same label as a balladeer; later, alongside Faces alumnus Robin Shaw, he participated in forming the Flowerpot Men together with the Ivy League’s members. That act scored success on Deram Records with “Let's Go to San Francisco,” and by 1970, still featuring Nelson and Shaw, it had evolved into White Plains, whose single “My Baby Loves Lovin'” became a hit. Shaw and guitarist Tony Hall are said to remain active in the twenty-first century within the present lineup of Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers, playing oldies venues across England and continental Europe. One track by the original quartet, “I Don't Care,” later appeared on the Sequel label’s compilation Hippy Hippy Shake: Beat Era, Vol. 2.