THEY are the band responsible for a large part of the soundtrack of the Mod era and enjoyed a rollercoaster ride through the perils of the music world.

Now the story of The Small Faces is being immortalised in a new musical which proved a hit in London and is on tour around the UK, visiting Mayflower Theatre tomorrow and Saturday.

Chris Simmons, who takes on the role of the band’s troubled lead-singer Steve Marriott, saw the script and decided he had to be involved.

Chris, who played big-hearted CID officer Mickey Webb in The Bill, told the Daily Echo: “I read it and said to my agent,’ I have got to have this part.’ It sort of snowballed from there really. I fell in love with the way it was written, the narration, and what I knew about Steve Marriott. It really is a wonderful, fantastic, ballsy, edgy, funny, dark, emotional piece and Carol’s writing is very funny.”

The production is a labour of love for its writer, co-producer (and one of its stars) Carol Harrison, a hugely-respected stage, film and TV actress who had known The Small Faces lead singer, the late Steve Marriott, since the age of eight and wanted to bring the story to the stage.

Simon Rouse, best known as DCI Jack Meadows in The Bill, plays tough music manager Don Arden in a show which is sure to recapture memories for some, and create lots of new ones for others.

Tickets: 023 8071 1811 or mayflower.org.uk