Bill Wyman

From Free net encyclopedia

Bill Wyman (born William George Perks on 24 October, 1936) was the bassist for the English rock and roll band The Rolling Stones from its founding in 1962 until 1991.

1 Music Career
- 1.1 Musical Instruments
2 Biography
3 Archaeology
4 Bibliography
- 4.1 Archaeology
- 4.2 Rolling Stones
5 External links

[edit]

Music Career

Wyman was born William George Perks in Penge, then in Kent, England. He took piano lessons from ages 10 to 13 and later taught himself bass guitar.

Wyman's work as a Rolling Stone, both in the studio and during concerts, rarely involved vocals. One notable exception was the song "In Another Land," released both on the Their Satanic Majesties Request album and oddly enough, also as a solo Bill Wyman single. A second Wyman penned song, "Downtown Suzie", was released on a collection of Rolling Stones outtakes, with the title of the song altered by Rolling Stones manager Allen Klein without informing either Wyman or the band.

Wyman kept a detailed daily journal of his days with the Rolling Stones. He used this journal extensively to refresh his memory for his history of the Rolling Stones, "Rolling with The Stones."

Evidently Wyman maintained a friendly relationship with guitarist Mick Taylor, the first member of the Rolling Stones to voluntarily leave the band. He continued to work with Taylor on solo projects from time to time after Taylor left the band.

Wyman says he created the essential riff to "Jumpin' Jack Flash," although Mick Jagger and Keith Richards dispute the claim and are credited with writing the song.

[edit]

Musical Instruments

Wyman is an adept musician playing several instruments including autoharp, guitar, vibraphone, glockenspiel, piano, organ, synthesizer, percussion and cello. He also contributed backing vocals.

[edit]

Biography

At age 47, Bill Wyman, began a relationship with 13-year old Mandy Smith, with her mother's blessing. Six years later, they were married, but the marriage only lasted a year. Not long after, Bill's 30-year-old son Stephen married Mandy's mother, age 46. That made Stephen a stepfather to his former stepmother. If Bill and Mandy had remained married, Stephen would have been his father's father-in-law and his own grandpa.

[edit]