Bill Wyman: biography, musical activity

Bill Wyman is best known as the bass player of The Rolling Stones, a famous rock band featuring Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The group has successfully performed for many years, beginning in the 1960s. Some of her best albums are Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed and Tattoo You. Wyman used the band's success to start 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.. Was born on October 24, 1936 in Lewishem, London, England. As a child, he played on the organ with his father, received piano lessons from 10 years. In 1955, he began serving in the British Air Force on a 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 such performers as Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley and Fats Domino. It was in the army that Billy made friends with Lee Wyman, whose name he later took as a pseudonym.

After the demobilization, Wyman returned to England, married and worked part-time in various places to pay numerous bills. One can say with confidence that the young man did not shun absolutely no difficulty. However, he did not forget about music for a second, it was his dream. By 1960, Bill still made it and began to play in a band in which he was able to earn a few pounds, giving concerts throughout the city. Soon Billy chose the bass guitar as his instrument, where he began to play the rest of his life.

"Rolling stones"

In 1962 Bill Wyman came to audition and got a seat in The Rolling Stones, which 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, it can be said, moved to a new level of performance, and the other members of the group did their best to make it that way. "Stones" were clearly "sharper" than their counterparts from Liverpool, thanks to the pompous bandlender 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 "Stones" famous throughout the world. The band had many hits, such as Jumpin 'Jack Flash (1968), Brown Sugar (1971), Start Me Up (1981).

Solo career

At the peak of the popularity of "Stones" British bass player started a solo career. He created his first album Monkey Grip in 1974, and then the second - his release Stone Alone (1976), which received good reviews from critics, but was poorly sold. Wyman remained with the "Stones" until 1993, and then created his own personal musical team Rhythm Kings. The team released a number of albums, including Double Bill in 2001, in which he took part as a guest of ex-Beatle George Harrison.

Personal life

Bill Wyman was married three times. He married Susan Acosta in 1993, they have three daughters: Katherine, Jessica and Matilda. He still has a son Stephen from the first alliance with Diane Corey. Wyman was married to Mandy Smith from 1989 to 1993.

In March 2016, Wyman reported through a spokesman that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Wyman wrote several books about music, besides that, he is considered a gifted photographer. Also, in his spare time, he likes to engage in archeology, the search for precious metals.

"I've 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, reading books and watching documentaries. When I was in the group for 30 years, doing my favorite things was very difficult, because I did not have the opportunity to spend a lot of time on it, "he says.