Bill Wyman

Best known as the original bassist for iconic British rock and roll band The Rolling Stones, Bill Wyman was born William Perks on October 24, 1936, in Lewisham, England. He became interested in rock music while in the Royal Air Force in the mid-1950s and hearing this then-new style of music at dancehalls in West Germany. He bought a guitar and formed a skiffle group in 1957. He eventually switched to bass guitar and found himself auditioning for a new rhythm and blues band by the name of The Rolling Stones in 1962. As a member of the Stones, he became one of the best known musicians in the world. As the only true rivals of The Beatles, the Rolling Stones’ success was unprecedented at the time. Although he provided minimal backing vocal support for the group, he was the first member of the band to release a solo single when “In Another Land” – also featured on the Stones album Their Satanic Majesties Request – was released in 1967. Seven years later, while still a member of the band, he released his debut solo album, Monkey Grip (1974), which included the singles “Monkey Grip Glue” and “White Lightnin’.” Two years later, he released Stone Alone (1976), an album that included the singles “If You Wanna Be Happy,” and “Apache Woman.” After releasing his soundtrack to the 1981 movie Green Ice, he issued the single “(Si Si) Je Suis un Rock Star,” which became a Top 20 hit and his best known solo recording. The single was included on his self-titled album, released in 1982. Three years later, Billy Wyman put together the supergroup Willie and the Poor Boys to play some live shows and raise money for Action Research into Multiple Sclerosis. The members of the group included Charlie Watts, Jimmy Page, Chris Rea, Paul Rodgers, Gary Brooker and many others. Willie and the Poor Boys released one live album and one studio release before Bill Wyman returned his focus to the Stones and working on several more soundtrack recordings. After the release of his 1992 solo album Stuff, Billy Wyman retired from the Rolling Stones after three decades of dedicates service. He formed soul / blues / jazz group Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings and released several albums including Struttin’ Our Stuff (1997), Anyway the Wind Blows (1998), Groovin’ (2000), Double Bill (2001), and Just for a Thrill (2004). Bill Wyman released his fifth proper solo album, Back to Basics, in 2015. In 2023, he recorded “Live by the Sword,” his first recording with The Rolling Stones since he left the band three decades earlier (the song was featured on their album Hackney Diamonds). Bill Wyman returned to his solo career with the release of the Drive My Car album in 2024.