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Did Bill Wyman Do The Right Thing?

BulbousMoses

BulbousMoses

Jun 26, 2008
1,412
142
Ottawa, Canada
#1
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?
 
#2
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. :-)
 
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#4
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)!
 
#5
plangentmusic said:
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.
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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!
 
#8
BulbousMoses said:
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?
Click to expand...


If he's happy why should we even second guess his decision?
 
#10
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.
 
#13
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.
 
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#14
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.
 
#15
BulbousMoses said:
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?
Click to expand...

He put his personal life needs first. Good for him.
 
#16
Zeb Norris said:
I'm nwith you there! His bass work w The Jeff Beck Group kicks ass on anything he ever did on guitar.
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...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?
 
#17
ubado said:
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.
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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.
 
#19
BulbousMoses said:
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?
Click to expand...
he's older than the rest of them too....iirc,and i imagine that was part of it..
 
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#20
BulbousMoses said:
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!
Click to expand...

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!
 

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