Bill Wyman is best known as the bass player for The Rolling Stones, the famous rock band featuring Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The group has performed successfully for many years, starting in the 1960s. Some of her best albums are Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed and Tattoo You. Wyman used the success of the group to begin a solo career, and then completely left the Stones in the 90s, deciding to lead the Rhythm Kings team.
early years
Bill Wyman at birth was named William George Perks Jr. He was born on October 24, 1936 in Lewisham, London, England. As a child, he played the organ with his father, received piano lessons from 10 years old. In 1955, he began serving in the British Air Force base in Germany. It was during his military service that Wyman first heard on American radio channels and since then will be inspired by rock and roll, worshiping artists such as Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley and Fats Domino. It was in the army that Billy made friends with Lee Wyman, whose last name he later took as a pseudonym.
After the demobilization, Wymen returned to England, got married and worked in various places to pay numerous bills. It is safe to say that the young man did not shy away from absolutely no work. However, for a second he did not forget about music, it was his dream. By 1960, Bill nevertheless carried it out and began to play in a group in which he was able to earn several pounds, giving concerts throughout the city. Soon, Billy chose a bass guitar as his instrument, on which he began to play the rest of his life.
"Rolling stones"
In 1962, Bill Wyman came to the audition and got a place in the band The Rolling Stones, which then included Mick Jagger (solo, harmonica), Richards (guitar, solo), Charlie Watts (drums) and Brian Jones (guitar). The band released their first album, The Rolling Stones, in 1964. The band used the popular blues sound. "Rolling stones" in 1960 became part of the "British invasion" in the United States.
The rock band is positioned as an alternative to The Beatles. Bill Wyman, “Rolling Stones” with whose participation, we can say, moved to a new level of performance, and other members of the group did everything possible to make it that way. The Stones were clearly sharper than their Liverpool counterparts, thanks to the pompous bandleader Jagger.
Subsequent albums over the following decades, including Beggars Banquet (1968), Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! (1970), Exile on Main St. (1972) and Tattoo You (1981) made The Stones famous throughout the world. The group had many hits, such as “Jumpin 'Jack Flash” (1968), “Brown Sugar” (1971), “Start Me Up” (1981).
Solo career
At the peak of the Stones' popularity, the British bass player began a solo career. He created his first Monkey Grip album in 1974, and then the second - his release Stone Alone (1976), which received good reviews from critics but sold poorly. Wyman stayed with The Stones until 1993, and then created his own personal music band, Rhythm Kings. The collective released a number of albums, including Double Bill in 2001, in which ex-Beatle George Harrison took part as a guest.
Personal life
Bill Wyman was married three times. He married Susan Accost in 1993, they have three daughters: Katherine, Jessica and Matilda. He still has a son, Stephen, from his first union with Diane Corey. Wyman was married to Mandy Smith from 1989 to 1993.
In March 2016, Wyman announced through a spokesperson that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Wyman has written several books about music, in addition, he is considered a gifted photographer. Also in her free time she likes to engage in archeology and the search for precious metals.
“I have always been interested in a few things since I was a teenager. I was interested in ancient cultures, archeology, astronomy, photography, art. I tried to learn more about all this by reading books and watching documentaries. When I was in the group for 30 years, it was very difficult to do what I liked, because I didn’t have the opportunity to spend a lot of time on it, ”he says.