Bill Wyman(I)
- Music Department
- Producer
- Actor
Wyman was born in Lewisham, Kent, on 24th October 1936. When he was a
child he started to play the organ with his father. His first real job
was when he did his national service in the RAF Regiment. When he came
back to England he got married and had a kid called Steven. Bill then
took up a job as a carpenter and was in the meantime teaching himself
bass guitar.
In late 1962 he auditioned to be the bassist for the Rolling Stones and
was duly chosen. The original line up consisted of Mick Jagger (vocals,
harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie
Watts (drums) and Brian Jones (guitar). The Stones released their first
album in 1964 titled "The Rolling Stones". This album was the first of
many successful ones. Through the 60s the Stones released singles like
"Satisfaction" (1965), Let's Spend the night together (1967), Sympathy
for the Devil (1968) and "Honky Tonk Woman" (1969). Even though Bill,
together with Charlie, was more in the background of the group he still
enjoyed himself, as he would have years of success to come. Even though
he had had the breakup of his first marriage he still managed to twang
away on his bass. In 1969 Brian Jones left the group and shortly
afterwards he died in mysterious circumstances and was replaced by Mick
Taylor. In 1970 the Stones were in debt. They had got no money from
Decca for recording the album "Let it Bleed" and the money they should
have had for touring wasn't coming in either. After Mick Jagger
finished his performance in "Performance", (1970) they recorded Brown
Sugar and immediately signed to a new record company. Throughout the
rest of the 70s the Stones made endless hits and live performances. The
tunes most known from then are "Brown Sugar" (1971), "Angie" (1973),
"It's only rock 'n roll" (1974) and "Respectable" (1978).
In the meantime, Bill was making his own music. He released his debut
solo album "Stone Alone" in 1976. Even though the album was not a great
success it was admired by critics. The 80s, though, were to come and
that was to be a funny time for Bill. The Stones released "Emotional
Rescue" in 1980 but Bill was recording a solo album and he released
what was to be his most popular single "Je suis un rock star" which was
released in 1981. The same year the Stones released "Tattoo you" and
they went on a major world tour to promote it. After this things were
not going well for the five Stones. In 1983 the Stones recorded and
released "Undercover" which was a success but things inside the group
was not a success. Mick and Keith were arguing about what musical
direction the group should go. Bill's second marriage had broken up. In
the autumn of 1984, Mick Jagger recorded his first solo album "She's
the boss" which Keith didn't approve of. In 1985 the Stones recorded
"Dirty Work" which was released the following year and Bill recorded an
album for his own band "Willie and the poor boys". At the end of the
year Ian Stewart, known as the "Sixth Stone", died and the band was
deeply moved.
When "Dirty Work" was released Bill, Keith, Ron and Charlie wanted to
tour to promote the album but Mick said "No way Jose". This led to a
Stones break-up and everybody in the band in turn falling out with
Mick. Bill didn't do much until 1989 when the Stones got back together
to recorded and tour behind "Steel Wheels". The tour was a success but
it was to be Bill's last as in 1992 he announced that he was leaving
the Stones and he left the following year. Keith did everything to stop
him but no avail.
Since then he has been playing bass in "Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings"
which are a popular live attraction and have released about 4 albums so
far. It is not known whether Bill will join the Stones for a couple of
concerts on the 40th Anniversary world tour, but you never know.
child he started to play the organ with his father. His first real job
was when he did his national service in the RAF Regiment. When he came
back to England he got married and had a kid called Steven. Bill then
took up a job as a carpenter and was in the meantime teaching himself
bass guitar.
In late 1962 he auditioned to be the bassist for the Rolling Stones and
was duly chosen. The original line up consisted of Mick Jagger (vocals,
harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie
Watts (drums) and Brian Jones (guitar). The Stones released their first
album in 1964 titled "The Rolling Stones". This album was the first of
many successful ones. Through the 60s the Stones released singles like
"Satisfaction" (1965), Let's Spend the night together (1967), Sympathy
for the Devil (1968) and "Honky Tonk Woman" (1969). Even though Bill,
together with Charlie, was more in the background of the group he still
enjoyed himself, as he would have years of success to come. Even though
he had had the breakup of his first marriage he still managed to twang
away on his bass. In 1969 Brian Jones left the group and shortly
afterwards he died in mysterious circumstances and was replaced by Mick
Taylor. In 1970 the Stones were in debt. They had got no money from
Decca for recording the album "Let it Bleed" and the money they should
have had for touring wasn't coming in either. After Mick Jagger
finished his performance in "Performance", (1970) they recorded Brown
Sugar and immediately signed to a new record company. Throughout the
rest of the 70s the Stones made endless hits and live performances. The
tunes most known from then are "Brown Sugar" (1971), "Angie" (1973),
"It's only rock 'n roll" (1974) and "Respectable" (1978).
In the meantime, Bill was making his own music. He released his debut
solo album "Stone Alone" in 1976. Even though the album was not a great
success it was admired by critics. The 80s, though, were to come and
that was to be a funny time for Bill. The Stones released "Emotional
Rescue" in 1980 but Bill was recording a solo album and he released
what was to be his most popular single "Je suis un rock star" which was
released in 1981. The same year the Stones released "Tattoo you" and
they went on a major world tour to promote it. After this things were
not going well for the five Stones. In 1983 the Stones recorded and
released "Undercover" which was a success but things inside the group
was not a success. Mick and Keith were arguing about what musical
direction the group should go. Bill's second marriage had broken up. In
the autumn of 1984, Mick Jagger recorded his first solo album "She's
the boss" which Keith didn't approve of. In 1985 the Stones recorded
"Dirty Work" which was released the following year and Bill recorded an
album for his own band "Willie and the poor boys". At the end of the
year Ian Stewart, known as the "Sixth Stone", died and the band was
deeply moved.
When "Dirty Work" was released Bill, Keith, Ron and Charlie wanted to
tour to promote the album but Mick said "No way Jose". This led to a
Stones break-up and everybody in the band in turn falling out with
Mick. Bill didn't do much until 1989 when the Stones got back together
to recorded and tour behind "Steel Wheels". The tour was a success but
it was to be Bill's last as in 1992 he announced that he was leaving
the Stones and he left the following year. Keith did everything to stop
him but no avail.
Since then he has been playing bass in "Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings"
which are a popular live attraction and have released about 4 albums so
far. It is not known whether Bill will join the Stones for a couple of
concerts on the 40th Anniversary world tour, but you never know.