Bill Wyman

Bill Wyman – Life, Career, and Quotes

Bill Wyman (born 24 October 1936) is a British musician best known as the longtime bass guitarist for The Rolling Stones. Explore his life, musical contributions, post-Stones career, and memorable insights.

Introduction

Bill Wyman, born William George Perks (24 October 1936), is an English musician, songwriter, photographer, and author. He rose to prominence as the bass guitarist for The Rolling Stones from 1962 to 1993, contributing to their signature sound and rhythm section. After leaving the Stones, he led his own band, Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, and pursued many creative interests including writing, photography, and collecting. His career spans decades of rock history, and his roles offstage—author, archaeologist, metal detector enthusiast—add complexity to his public image.

Early Life & Background

• Bill Wyman was born in Lewisham Hospital, in Lewisham, South London, England.

• His birth name was William George Perks (later legally changed to Wyman in 1964).

• He was one of six children; his father worked as a bricklayer, and the family experienced financial hardship, especially during World War II, when they endured The Blitz.

• As a child, he studied piano (from about age 10 to 13) and had lessons in other instruments.

• He attended Oakfield Primary School and later Beckenham & Penge County Grammar School, but left before completing his GCEs when his father got him a job.

• From 1955 to 1957 he served in the Royal Air Force, stationed partially in Germany.

Early in his musical journey, he played in local bands (such as The Cliftons) and eventually shifted his focus from guitar to bass—after hearing the sound of a bass guitar at a Barron Knights concert.

Musical Career & Achievements

Joining The Rolling Stones

• In 1962, when The Rolling Stones needed a bass player (replacing Dick Taylor), Wyman auditioned and was accepted into the band.

• He became a core part of the band’s rhythm section, collaborating closely with drummer Charlie Watts to create a solid groove that underpinned much of their music.

• Throughout his time in the Stones, Wyman performed on their first 19 studio albums.

• Though not often in the spotlight, Wyman contributed backing vocals in early recordings and concerts, and he wrote a few songs for the band. Notably, he recorded “In Another Land” (on Their Satanic Majesties Request)—the only single credited solely to him during his time in the Stones.

• Additionally, another song, “Downtown Suzie,” appeared among Rolling Stones outtakes.

Style and Instruments

• Wyman was known for using a homemade fretless bass (created by removing frets from a Dallas Tuxedo bass) early in his career.

• Over time, his bass arsenal included short-scale models such as ones from Framus, Vox, Gibson EB-3, and Steinberger.

• His bass tone and technique—while not flashy—was solid, holding firm to the groove, often serving as the musical backbone. His ideas about bass lines and rhythm have been appreciated by fellow musicians.

Solo Work & Side Projects

• Wyman released solo albums, including Monkey Grip (1974) and Stone Alone (1976).

• In 1982, he released an album titled Bill Wyman, which included the hit “(Si Si) Je Suis un Rock Star.”

• He also composed film scores: Green Ice (1981) and contributed to Italian director Dario Argento’s films Phenomena and Opera.

• In 1997, Wyman founded Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, a band with a rotating lineup that explored blues, jazz, soul, and rock.

• His band covered Stones songs occasionally, and Wyman sometimes sang lead (e.g. “Honky Tonk Women”).

Retirement from the Stones & Later Contributions

• In January 1993, Wyman officially left The Rolling Stones. However, he occasionally reunited in guest appearances (e.g. in 2012).

• In 2023 he recorded a bass part (“Live by the Sword”) on the Stones’ album Hackney Diamonds, marking his return to a studio recording with the band after a long interval.

• Outside music, Wyman is an author (publishing books including his memoir Stone Alone) and photographer.

• He is also known for his interest in archaeology and metal detecting—his book Bill Wyman’s Treasure Islands delves into his explorations in the British Isles.

Among honors, Wyman was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Rolling Stones in 1989.

Personality, Public Life & Controversies

• Wyman has spoken candidly about the pressures and turbulence of rock life. He once reflected:

  “This life is incredibly destructive… the scars stay.”

• His personal life has attracted attention. In 1959 he married Diane Cory with whom he had a son, Stephen. They later divorced.

• In 1989, at age 52, Wyman married Mandy Smith, then 18. Their marriage was controversial; they separated after about two years.

• In 1993 he remarried—this time to Suzanne Accosta, and they have three daughters together.

• In 2016, Wyman was diagnosed with prostate cancer; his condition was disclosed as early stage, and he expected to recover.

Wyman has lived at Gedding Hall (his country home in Suffolk) and in Saint-Paul-de-Vence in the South of France. He is also a devoted Crystal Palace F.C. fan and cricket enthusiast; anecdotal stories include him faking a toothache to return to London to watch his team’s match during a tour.

Notable Quotes

While Wyman is more known for his music than aphorisms, a few remarks stand out:

“This life is incredibly destructive… the scars stay there.”
— On the toll of rock stardom.

He also gave reflections on identity and change in interviews and his writings, though his statements are more reflective than pithy.

Legacy & Influence

• Bill Wyman’s role in The Rolling Stones was more than simply the bass player behind the scenes: his steady grooves and understated presence helped anchor one of rock’s most iconic bands.

• His shift into fronting his own band (Rhythm Kings) demonstrated his desire to stay musically active on his own terms.

• As a writer and photographer, he added dimensions to his public persona beyond musician — preserving rock history through his diaries, images, and books.

• His explorations in archaeology and treasure hunting show a curiosity and eclecticism beyond music.

Wyman may not always have been in the limelight, but his contributions were foundational to rock ensemble playing, and his diverse post-Stones career ensures he remains a figure of interest to both fans and scholars.