Did Bill Wyman Do The Right Thing?

BulbousMoses · #1 12-30-2010, 08:38 AM

I wanted to throw the question out there. I was reading about Bill Wyman's decision to quit the Rolling Stones and I wonder if, in hindsight, it was the right thing to do. He stands by his decision and seems quite happy with it in interviews I've read. What do you guys think? Good decision or not?

Winnb · #2 12-30-2010, 08:41 AM

Yeah he did the right thing. He was their bassist for 30 years. A founding member. He's had as much success at his chosen profession as anyone could hope to have.

No man could ask for more. Well you could but you'd be greedy. :-)

plangentmusic · #3 12-30-2010, 08:44 AM

It isn't like he quit right before they made it big. He did well. He had enough. That makes it the right decision for him.

Meanwhile 20 years later Daryl Jones is till considered the "fill-in" guy.

I always thought Ron Wood should have taken over the bass spot.

bassist4dalord · #4 12-30-2010, 08:48 AM

Yep. Think of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. People see them and think "cracked-out has-been skeleton musician."

I think if it were me, I'd get out 20 years ago, when they weren't as "has-been" as they are now. That said, Darryl Jones is a great replacement, and The Rolling Stones rock(ed)!

BulbousMoses · #5 12-30-2010, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

It isn't like he quit right before they made it big. He did well. He had enough. That makes it the right decision for him.

Meanwhile 20 years later Daryl Jones is till considered the "fill-in" guy.

I always thought Ron Wood should have taken over the bass spot.

My personal opinion is that it was the right thing and it was probably a decision that took a lot of guts to make...on the other hand, maybe not..he has hinted in interviews that he thinks the Stones are not the same band as they were in the late 60's to early 70's. And if he wasn't thrilled with the idea of playing in what has become a "Greatest Hits" act, then bailing out was probably a relief for him!

Phalex · #6 12-30-2010, 08:50 AM

Lemme see.....

He's independently wealthy.

He's world famous.

And he get's to sleep in his own bed with his hot young wife each and every night of the year instead of being on a tour bus with a bunch of octogenarians. (Old people have problems with incontinence you know)

Yeah, I think he did OK.

Zeb Norris · #7 12-30-2010, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

I always thought Ron Wood should have taken over the bass spot.

I'm nwith you there! His bass work w The Jeff Beck Group kicks ass on anything he ever did on guitar.

T-MOST · #8 12-30-2010, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BulbousMoses

I wanted to throw the question out there. I was reading about Bill Wyman's decision to quit the Rolling Stones and I wonder if, in hindsight, it was the right thing to do. He stands by his decision and seems quite happy with it in interviews I've read. What do you guys think? Good decision or not?

If he's happy why should we even second guess his decision?

BulbousMoses · #9 12-30-2010, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeb Norris

I'm nwith you there! His bass work w The Jeff Beck Group kicks ass on anything he ever did on guitar.

Sure..they could have moved him to bass and brought back Mick Taylor on guitar...then they'd be worth listening to....

MN_Bass · #10 12-30-2010, 09:06 AM

He probably made the right decision. Who knows maybe he will get back together for a farewell type thing in the future. DJ has done a great job filling in though, they should have put him out front though like they did when RW joined.

Huge · #11 12-30-2010, 09:12 AM

I think he did. Not that he cares what I think.

BulbousMoses · #12 12-30-2010, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huge

I think he did. Not that he cares what I think.

+1 And he is 74 years old after all. It just might look a little silly playing "Jumping Jack Flash" at that age.

ubado · #13 12-30-2010, 10:38 AM

Definitely.

He's made it perfectly clear that Mick and Keith didn't give him much credit for anything. From what I've gathered ... he wasn't happy with The Stones for quite a long time. Finally decided to call it quits. I doubt he'll ever revisit his old group anytime soon ... seems to be a bit of bad blood there (at least for him). Kudos to him for making the best of his situation. IMO ... one the most underrated bassists of a major act.

KPJ · #14 12-30-2010, 11:06 AM

Well, I'm only up to the part in Keith Richards' book where the Stones are the 2nd biggest band in England and are about to head off for their first US tour. It's a great read so far. He mentions the only reason they let Bill in the band at first was because he had a Vox AC30 amp and no one else had an amp! Then he heard him and Charlie playing together and knew he was the guy.

Bill didn't need the Stones anymore, so it was time for him to give it up. I have to read his book, "Stone Alone", once I finish Keith's.

Ric5 · #15 12-30-2010, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BulbousMoses

I wanted to throw the question out there. I was reading about Bill Wyman's decision to quit the Rolling Stones and I wonder if, in hindsight, it was the right thing to do. He stands by his decision and seems quite happy with it in interviews I've read. What do you guys think? Good decision or not?

He put his personal life needs first. Good for him.

JimK · #16 12-30-2010, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeb Norris

I'm nwith you there! His bass work w The Jeff Beck Group kicks ass on anything he ever did on guitar.

...Wood's bass playing on "Maggie May" is also nice.
IIRC, most of The Jeff Beck Group's early stuff was Blues-based (Beck-Ola & Truth)...the guy after Wood, Clive Chaman took the JBG up a notch, IMO.

That said, he is primarily a guitarist. His guitar work with The Faces is very, very good. I always thoyght The Faces sounded like The Stones...only much better.

...nevertheless, Wood as The Stones' bassist woulda been interesting. Doesn't he do some of the studio bassin?

JimK · #17 12-30-2010, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubado

He's made it perfectly clear that Mick and Keith didn't give him much credit for anything. From what I've gathered ... he wasn't happy with The Stones for quite a long time. Finally decided to call it quits. I doubt he'll ever revisit his old group anytime soon ... seems to be a bit of bad blood there (at least for him). Kudos to him for making the best of his situation. IMO ... one the most underrated bassists of a major act.

Some of this was brought up in a recent Bass Player mag...about the time the re-issue of Exile On Main Street was released.

Labi · #18 12-30-2010, 12:19 PM

Respect for Bill Wyman and his decision. Maybe we need a thread for John Deacon as well. Maybe there already is one and I didn't see it.

Jim Campbell · #19 12-30-2010, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BulbousMoses

I wanted to throw the question out there. I was reading about Bill Wyman's decision to quit the Rolling Stones and I wonder if, in hindsight, it was the right thing to do. He stands by his decision and seems quite happy with it in interviews I've read. What do you guys think? Good decision or not?

he's older than the rest of them too....iirc,and i imagine that was part of it..

butterbean · #20 12-30-2010, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BulbousMoses

My personal opinion is that it was the right thing and it was probably a decision that took a lot of guts to make...on the other hand, maybe not..he has hinted in interviews that he thinks the Stones are not the same band as they were in the late 60's to early 70's. And if he wasn't thrilled with the idea of playing in what has become a "Greatest Hits" act, then bailing out was probably a relief for him!

I agree. Watch Stones in Exile, then watch Shine a Light. When they are rehearsing in Shine a Light you can see it—the difference. The band leader is their piano player! It's like the Rolling Stones Musical Review!

That being said I will be seeing them for my first time when they come around again!