AceShowbiz - Former Simply Red star Mick Hucknall has been confirmed as Rod Stewart's replacement in newly-reunited supergroup The Faces. Ron Wood, Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan re-teamed with former frontman Stewart for rehearsals in late 2008 with a view to touring together in 2009 - but their schedules clashed and the "Baby Jane" singer was forced to quit.

Speculation mounted that Hucknall would replace Stewart when he joined the band as a guest for a concert at London's Royal Albert Hall in October. Now Wood has confirmed Hucknall will be their new singer - and they chose the rocker because his voice sounds like Stewart's at the height of his success in the 1970s. He says, "What we loved about Mick Hucknall was his voice range was just like Rod's in the Seventies... It's exciting to be on this path again. I hope Faces fans are as excited as we are."

The reformed band is due to perform at the Vintage At Goodwood Festival in West Sussex, south England in August. They then plan to head out on a world tour, starting early next year.