Bill Wyman-never any mention.

sedan_dad · #1 02-04-2007, 04:40 AM

I've been on this board for a while now and I've seen very little mention of Bill Wyman from the Stones.
I've always loved his lazy grooves and the way he worked with Charlie.They haven't sounded the same since he left.
I've thought it a bit strange that he's rarely mentioned here.

KJung · #2 02-04-2007, 06:59 AM

He's a 'love him or hate him' sort of guy. I always thought his playing and tone were simply horrible (and from what I understand, many of the bass lines on the Stones recordings were played by Keith).

The Stones with Daryl Jones sound much, much better to me... they needed a 'kick in the pants', and DJ gave it to them. Of course, totally IMO...

Bill was in the right place at the right time. I don't think he would have ever even gotten a gig in a wedding band if he hadn't stumbled into the Stones thing way back when

gkbass13 · #3 02-04-2007, 07:17 AM

i agreen with ken regarding the necessry kick in the pants. i dont think wyman's playign matched the stones at all, he is too laid back and flat sounding, not much variation. i do like his playing for basic blues stuff though, and when i saw the bill wyman band a few years ago, they were aweesome....tight and rockin. the rest of th band was responsible for most of that, but bill's bass lines were solid and helped carry everything....as far as hsi stones stuff, i think darryl jones makes a much better fit for the band.

James Hart · #4 02-04-2007, 09:11 AM

I love Bill's playing on the couple of stones tunes I like.... but I mostly don't like the stones and I have trouble listening to Charlie's drumming for very long.

pbass2 · #5 02-04-2007, 09:20 AM

I really loved his playing. I think the Stones rhythm section was a far more unique one with Bill. He had a really understated swing to his parts. He could play around the beat in a way that I think is a lot harder than it sounds. If you study Exile on Main St., if you listen to the tracks Keith or Mick Taylor played bass on, they sound like "guitarists playing bass" parts to me. Bill sounds like bass bass if ya know what I mean. My favorite Stones era is that time though, so I can see how on their new stuff Darryl Jones might seem a better fit. He plays more "proper" bass I guess. I just really dig that really loose swinging rootsy thing they had with Wyman. I also really like Joey Spampinato who has a similar thing going on.

sedan_dad · #6 02-04-2007, 10:51 AM

Joey Spampinato has a great style of playing.I really enjoy listening to his tracks.
My point with Wyman is considering the level the Stones have reached and their musical history and the impact the band has had on music ,I find it odd that he's held in such low reguard.
He has a style simular to Duck Dunns' and I feel he's a master of what notes NOT to play.

bassist15 · #7 02-04-2007, 07:49 PM

Please dont compare Duck Dunn and Bill Wyman . Dunn has so much feel and great. While Wyman is great , Dunn has influenced thousands of bassists even Sir Paul. Wyman while great at sometimes sounds flat to me most of the time . Im really not a big Stones fan either. I really liked the Brian Jones era band. Thats just my opinion though. I have heard countless times that Wyman was added to the band because he had such great equipment.

AxtoOx · #8 02-04-2007, 08:15 PM

He's what, 10 years older than the rest of them. I like some of the Stones 70's stuff. Exile on Main Street, Sticky Fingers, Goats Head Soup. I kinda think they should have hung it up by now, but many would disagree. I liked Ronnie Wood better PreStones. Faces and even Rod Stewart. Now he's just part of the scenery.

Busker · #9 02-04-2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist15

I have heard countless times that Wyman was added to the band because he had such great equipment.

There is a bit of truth to that. Wyman had been playing in bands and had a bit of equipment. A homemade bass cabinet and a Vox something or other amplifier, plus a couple of basses. They were impressed by the Vox amp because it was far bigger and better than anything they had at that time. So yeah, having the Vox was a plus, but at first they didn't think he would fit in. He was a bit older, a family man, and had been playing pop music, not the R&B Brian worshipped.

But Wyman flat and not very good for the Stones? Come on. They had about 500 number ones with him on bass. He couldn't have been that wrong for them.

oldrocker · #10 02-04-2007, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbass2

I really loved his playing. I think the Stones rhythm section was a far more unique one with Bill. He had a really understated swing to his parts. He could play around the beat in a way that I think is a lot harder than it sounds.

+1 I could not agree more. I never appreciated this until I started learning and playing some stones tunes. He's loose and tight at the same time, off the beat but right on. Very unique, Very cool stuff.

The Craw · #11 02-04-2007, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

... (and from what I understand, many of the bass lines on the Stones recordings were played by Keith).

I don't know why that keeps getting repeated.The Stones' tracks are very well documented and Bill played on well over 90% of the tracks.

Keith played on "Sympathy For The Devil" and "Let's Spend The Night Together". Bill played on all the rest of their early hits.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

The Stones with Daryl Jones sound much, much better to me... they needed a 'kick in the pants', and DJ gave it to them. Of course, totally IMO...

Totally IMO, but with Daryl Jones, the Stones aren't even a good Stones cover band. Of course, he's a fine bassist too but not a good fit. And he's a hired hand, not a member of the band.

The Craw · #12 02-04-2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbass2

I really loved his playing... I just really dig that really loose swinging rootsy thing they had with Wyman. I also really like Joey Spampinato who has a similar thing going on.

Very well put.

brianrost · #13 02-05-2007, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist15

While Wyman is great , Dunn has influenced thousands of bassists even Sir Paul.

I'd argue anyone who picked up the bass because they dug the Stones was influenced by Bill. Bands all over the world cover his bass lines every day.

Busker · #14 02-05-2007, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianrost

I'd argue anyone who picked up the bass because they dug the Stones was influenced by Bill. Bands all over the world cover his bass lines every day.

Yeah. He was a most successful bassist. He played in one of the world's most renowned rock bands for almost 30 years. Attained heights most will only dream of.

Yet he was no good? LOL

Even if he wasn't the greatest bassist that ever was, he was successful. No one can ever take that away from him.

KJung · #15 02-05-2007, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busker

Yeah. He was a most successful bassist. He played in one of the world's most renowned rock bands for almost 30 years. Attained heights most will only dream of.

Yet he was no good? LOL

Even if he wasn't the greatest bassist that ever was, he was successful. No one can ever take that away from him.

Hmmm... when did being a 'support player' in a band that has sold lot's of records ever been related to individual talent or skill.

I too think Bill's playing 'fit' the Stones just fine, but he surely isn't held in much technical regard, etc.

Per other comments above... he was fine with the band (obviously), and also there is a reason he is rarely mentioned as a significant innovator or influence.... just a nice, solid, middle of the road player like thousands of others.... nothing wrong with that

Busker · #16 02-05-2007, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

Hmmm... when did being a 'support player' in a band that has sold lot's of records ever been related to individual talent or skill.

Uh, JPJ/Led Zeppelin, for one.

Peter Tork/Monkees? No.

I never said Bill Wyman was the greatest, however. I said he was successful. Attained heights that not many could claim.

KJung · #17 02-05-2007, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busker

Uh, JPJ/Led Zeppelin, for one.

Peter Tork/Monkees? No.

I never said Bill Wyman was the greatest, however. I said he was successful. Attained heights that not many could claim.

+1.... per your Led Zep/Monkees commen, that's the point I was making.... no relationship between popularity and skill.... some 'band bassists' are amazing... others are mediocre at best..... one has nothing to do with the other.

Again, per your comment above... Bill was a very, very lucky man to be 'in the right place at the right time'

... I'll agree to that completely

Busker · #18 02-05-2007, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

+1.... per your Led Zep/Monkees commen, that's the point I was making.... no relationship between popularity and skill.... some 'band bassists' are amazing... others are mediocre at best..... one has nothing to do with the other.

OK, I understand your point now, and I agree.

If given a choice to become known as one of the greatest bassists that ever was, or, to have a career as sucessful as Bill Wyman's....

That would be a tough choice, but I would choose a career as sucessful as Bill's.

KJung · #19 02-05-2007, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busker

OK, I understand your point now, and I agree.

If given a choice to become known as one of the greatest bassists that ever was, or, to have a career as sucessful as Bill Wyman's....

That would be a tough choice, but I would choose a career as sucessful as Bill's.

Now THAT I would agree with totally and completely.... would I rather be Tommy Kennedy driving from city to city in a van with Dave Weckl and playing in front of 75 people... or be in the jet with the Stones and not get interviewed by BP?

...that's an easy one

burk48237 · #20 02-05-2007, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

Now THAT I would agree with totally and completely.... would I rather be Tommy Kennedy driving from city to city in a van with Dave Weckl and playing in front of 75 people... or be in the jet with the Stones and not get interviewed by BP?

...that's an easy one

I think Bill Wymans greatest bass playing accomplishment was bringing that hot 16 year old to the Grammies when he was like 60!